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Difficulty growing grass #872971

Asked June 13, 2024, 2:15 PM EDT

We have had difficulty growing grass. We have a lot of shade. We would like to add soil before trying to grow grass again. With our soil report information, what type of soil would you recommend? And what type of grass seed would you plant? Thank you

Shiawassee County Michigan

Expert Response

l found and reviewed your soil test report. You have a challenge to get grass to grow in these areas of your yard. Good News! The best time to seed new lawn is late August meaning you have time to prepare the soil before then.
I was surprised to see the low P, low K and very high CEC values. When I reviewed them with the Genesee Co. Horticultural Educator he recommended I ask the MSU Soil Health Educator for her opinion which I just did. When I get it I will get back with you, in the meantime I'm attaching links to articles on seeding a lawn to guide you:
Establishing A New Lawn Using Seed (E2910)-MSU
Lawn Establishment Steps-PSU
Renovating A Lawn for Quality & sustainability-UMN
You will need to have a grass seed mix high in fescues which are more shade tolerant. Good seed mixes have at least 2 cultivars for each specie in the mix and still need at least 2 hours of sunlight per day. More info in these links:
Turfgrass species ID & Cultivar Selection (E2912)-MSU
Recommended Turfgrass Cultivars-2012-Illinois
Turfgrass species selection-UMass
I am also going to suggest you consider shady ground cover alternatives to grass in the shadiest areas because grass may never grow in these areas successfully. More info in the attached links:
Groundcover Alternatives to Turf-MSU
https://illinoispollinators.org/pollinator-plant-selector/?_sfm_light=Shade
Groundcover Alternatives to Turf-UDel
Gardening in the Shade-UMN
Shady Lawn Alternatives-MSU
https://illinoisgroundwork.org/resources/plant-finder/?_sft_plant-light=shade
Lots to read and think about..... Feel free to email me with questions/comments. I'll email you my recommendations on prepping your areas when I get a reply from the Soil Health Educator.
Dick M. Replied June 15, 2024, 10:28 PM EDT
The response I received from the Soil health Educator is that your CEC value, while being high, is due to low organic matter and very fine soil particles (clay).  The soil also might be compacted causing thin turf.
I recommend adding Phosphorous (P) and Potassium (K) now using starter fertilizer for increasing P and Muriate of Potash (KCl: 0-0-60 to 0-0-62) or Potassium sulfate (0-0-50 to 0-0-52) for increasing K (remember to sum the K in the starter fert. w/ the other K supplement you use).  I would also consider adding some soil sulfur to lower your soil pH a bit (Lowering Soil pH with Soil Sulfur-MSU).  Add no more than 1# per 1000 SqFt of each at every application.
Late August is the best time to seed a lawn. Use a starter fertilizer high in both P & K and also put down another application of soil sulfur.  I recommend core aeration (Core Aeration of Lawns-MSU - see cultivation tips) over vertical mowers to loosen the soil because it removes a deeper core of soil.  Instead of adding soil add compost to increase your organic material.  Sow seed mix.  Then lightly rake to improve seed-to-soil contact, mix compost into soil and get materials into core holes. Since you have a lot of bare soil I'd add a thin layer of clean straw to shield the seed while it germinates.  Then irrigate daily in morning or early afternoon unless it rains (soil should be moist but not soggy).  You should have nice turf by October.  Finish adding P & K supplements per your soil test report in late fall and next year if still needed.  Mow high (3.5") and mulch your leaves in every fall.
Why Mow High-MSU
Mulch Leaves into Lawn-MSU
Mowing Lawn Turf (E0013TURF) - MSU
Remember to review the links in my previous email too.
Dick M. Replied June 22, 2024, 8:19 PM EDT
Thank you for your help!!

On Sat, Jun 22, 2024 at 8:19 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied June 26, 2024, 5:06 PM EDT

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