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When can I start over seeding and best grass seed for shaded areas

john_taylor6348john_taylor6348 Posts: 6
in Plants
hi all, moved into a new build last year which was turfed, surprisingly the grass is not to bad but over the winter months can see areas which need to more attention. These areas are mainly in shadeded areas. They is that much choice of grass seed to buy so could anyone suggest any, also with this mild weather we are having is it worth starting to over seed now?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Hi John - I would just pick one that's suitable for a shady area. The only issue is that shade is generally not great for grass anyway, so you'll probably find those parts will never be brilliant. It really depends how fussy you are about it all, and how  much time and effort you want to put in  ;)
    I expect many people will say it's fine to seed now, but I'd leave it a while unless you're in a suitable part of the country weather wise. There's certainly no grass growing where I am, and ground's too cold and wet,  so seed will just sit and rot. If you have warmer, drier conditions in your area, you could probably do it just now. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    April and September are the best times for sowing grass seed.  Your GC or nursery should have a mix suited to shade but, as FG says, grass is not good in shade and will always need drainage and moss management to do well.

    Have a look at this - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=416

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • john_taylor6348john_taylor6348 Posts: 6
    Thank you all. Think I will wait till April time as my back garden is still damp most days. Just need to check with local garden centre on seed.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    If it's damp, you need to do the aerating trick - go over the area pushing in a big garden fork as deep as you can get it then wiggle back and forth to make vertical holes.   Then you brush on lawn sand which can be pure sharp sand or a mix of sharp sand and grass fertiliser to fill those holes with grainy sand that improves drainage for the grass roots.

    More info on damp lawn care here - https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=204 
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • jamesharcourtjamesharcourt Posts: 465
    I've always had best luck with seeding in late summer / Autumn ... so last week of August through September. You need time for it to come up but also as long a period as possible to get established.  Problem putting it down in mid-September is you can get a frost just as the seedlings start and you can end up with bare patches, so I go for last week of August / first week of September.

    I tried often to seed in March and April with no joy.  I think if temperatures are warm ... so averaging above 7 degrees and the ground temp doesn't go below, you can get 5-10 day germination time with regular watering.

    Shady areas are just a tiny bit slower once they've germinated but the germination time is basically the same ... in fact no light is technically needed at all for the pre-germination period.

    Another bit of advice - have a really good seedbed - it makes such a difference.  Rake and till the soil to a depth of about 2 inches ... then put down a really fine lawn soil mixed with a bit of compost.  Get the seed down quite tuick and put down some more fine lawn soil just very thinly and rake - really lightly, so get it to sit in the soil.  

    Then give it a good watering ... once the seed is sitting nicely in there in a way where it won't move and anchored to the soil, as long as temps are good it will pop in no time!
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