Bermuda Grass in Shade: Does it Grow and Tolerate Shaded Areas?

If you’re looking to grow Bermuda grass in areas with shade, then there are a few things you need to consider. To begin with, Bermuda grass is not very tolerant to shade. If your lawn has tall trees and objects that block direct sunlight, you might want to consider another type of grass that will thrive under low sunlight areas.

But how much sunlight does Bermuda grass need? The straight and short answer is: a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight per day.

Bermuda grass sunlight requirements

Bermuda grass requires at least 4 hours of direct sunlight each day to do well. Any less exposure leads to poor growth, susceptibility to diseases, and retarded growth. This lawn grass is usually preferred by many lawn owners because of its tolerance to drought and heat during the months of summer.

Bermuda grass in shade - how much light does Bermuda grass require

Bermuda grass has a higher light requirement compared to many other turfgrasses. It will not grow well in shaded areas (areas with low light conditions). The growth and development of this turfgrass depend on the duration of light per day cumulatively.

The intensity of light is very important but that’s not all. Duration of sunlight over the length of the day also has an effect on the growth of leaves, rhizomes, and stolons

There are some varieties of Bermuda grass that have improved resistance to shade or less sunlight exposure. However, they do not do as well as Zoysia and Ryegrass.

Examples of such shade tolerant lawn grass varieties include the one produced by the Tifton Experiment Station, the TifGrand™ Bermuda(Tift No.4, ST-5). This hybrid is known to have superior shade tolerance over all other bermudagrass cultivars.

Effects of Shade on Bermudagrass Lawns

Growing a warm-season grass such as Bermuda grass in shaded areas subjects it to poor conditions. If there’s a dense canopy around your lawn, you’ll start to notice some undesirable signs. Trees with low branches and tall buildings can only mean there will be long hours of shade on your turf – sometimes much less than the minimum sunlight exposure for a healthy lawn.

Here are signs Bermuda grass isn’t getting enough sunlight:

  • Abnormally elongated stems: In low light conditions, usually less than 60% full sunlight, bermudagrass lawns start to develop elongated leaves, stems, and internodes.
  • Thining lawn: Your lawn will start to thin out due to reduced lateral growth since the grass experiences reduced photosynthesis. A sparse turf means your lawn will be creating room for the growth of weeds such as crabgrass, quackgrass, and dandelions.
  • Reduced tolerance to disease: Shaded areas of a Bermuda grass lawn will most likely suffer from turf diseases such as fungal infections, moss, root problems, etc. The reason for this is that dew settles on the leaves for longer hours compared to areas with longer exposures to sunlight.

No one likes a thin, leggy lawn. Those tall stolons and thin leaves do not look good at all. A good lawn should be lush, thick and full. Bermuda grass growth sideways, making it the perfect choice for most people looking for warm-season turfgrass. Check out this guide on proven ways to make Bermuda grass thick, fuller and greener if you’re experiencing density issues.

Shade Tolerant Bermuda Grass Varieties

It is highly believed that grass varieties that have thin leaves do well under shady conditions. “finer leaved varieties of any grass are more shade tolerant than coarser leaved varieties – possible finer leaves = more leaves per square inch = more leaf surface to help capture limited sunlight.”

In such light, celebration Bermuda grass would be the best for shade. This is because it appears to have finer leaves and can easily achieve a denser turf structure. It can tolerate reduced light much better than other varieties.

However, this is not a studied and proven fact. Only testing would produce more tangible and reliable results.

Note that even shade-tolerant varieties of turfgrass would require a minimum of 4 hours of direct sunlight to survive and thrive.

Shade-resistant grass alternatives

There are grass options for areas that don’t receive direct sunlight. For example, if you’re looking for a cool-season grass that thrives in shaded areas, try growing both tall and fine fescue will do great. Another option that would be great for a lawn with shade is Ryegrass.

A homeowner looking to grow warm-season lawn grass on a shaded lawn can also go for St. Augustine grass which requires a maximum of 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight to flourish. Another great option is Zoysiagrass.

In general, if your lawn is beneath trees and shrubs, try the following shade-resistant grasses instead of Bermuda grass:

  • Palmetto St. Augustine grass: This variety is highly tolerant to adverse soil and climate conditions. It does well under shade, drought, and even frost conditions.
  • GeoZoysia: This one is a fine-bladed turfgrass with great resistance to shade. It has a great color, making it a good choice for growing lush lawns.

It is very difficult to find a lawn grass variety that would be completely shade-resistant. However, there’s always some care you can try to improve your bermuda grass to grow better under low light conditions.

Let’s look at what you can do to help.

How to Care and Improve Bermuda Grass in Shade

A turf that’s under a canopy can be a challenge to grow. You’ll find it thin and sometimes patchy even if you water and feed it as required. However, there are a few tips you can follow to try to improve the growth and health of Bermuda grass under shade.

Here’s what to do:

  • Prune trees and canopy above and around the lawn to improve sunlight penetration to the grass underneath.
  • Mow the grass in the shaded areas slightly higher than the recommended Bermuda grass mowing height. This will enhance the sunlight capturing ability and improve the growth and performance of your turfgrass.
  • Reduce traffic on shaded areas of Bermuda grass. Additional stress on the shaded areas will worsen the growth of your turf.
  • Apply recommended amounts of nitrogen on your Bermuda grass. Avoid applying excess of it as this mistake can lead to burning and higher shade intolerance.

Keep in mind that before planting, you can test an area with a few plugs to determine if it is too shady for your type of grass. Bermuda grass is, in my opinion, one of the best hardy turfgrasses you can grow in your lawn.


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