Partial shade grass seed options
I helped a friend with his Reno and we put down RSR rye due to his kids playing football on it and it being in partial shade. I had read of all the ryes RSR was the most shade tolerant and I thought its repairing properties could help with any damage.
Turns out they get more shade than I’d planned and the RSR has always looked thin and meek despite oversowing and regular mowing/maintenance. Photos is post Reno when I’d say it looked its best.
Fine fescue would be what I’d go for in shade, but it won’t stand up to a lot of football traffic. Second best option Elfin tall fescue?
Let me know what you think!
How old is the RSR? It doesn’t look that old, it hasn’t tillered all that much by the looks?
I was talking to a mate the other day about rye over winter, and we were saying there’s a significant difference in performance, particularly the lack of thinning out, between rye kept at 60 mm versus 50 mm.
My MDR has been awesome this winter in the shade, I left it at 70mm and I really haven't had much thinning at all. Unfortunately it is a downside of rye with the lower sun over winter.
ETF would be a solid second choice. Fine fescue won't be any good with the foot traffic.
@Jonny Hicks photo is from after the renovation, so a year or more
@Jonny Hicks even in spring/summer his RSR was looking pretty average tbh
@Jonny Hicks this is the house showing shade areas in spring - funnily enough the satellite pic shows us mid Reno! It’s a 2 storey house so parts of the lawn are in full shade except in height of summer
@catchcam It's definitely a different ball game to ETF with irrigation needs over spring/summer, could be many reasons but that would be my initial thoughts.
@Jonny Hicks true, and I can’t guarantee that they stuck to the irrigation plan I suggested
@catchcam yeah that shades not great, especially if it's not getting 4+ hours a day.