Here is my experience of what really happened to lawns...

The 3-Punch KO (6:11)

Video Summary

The 3-punchs:

• One week of 80 degree temps in early spring initiated a “false start” and the grass had to revert to dormancy for a few weeks before the normal spring warm-up. The second startup had much less carbohydrates to work from. I haven’t discussed this theory with a scientist yet and feel that there is something to because lawns that had been fertilized last winter started great on the first warm up, but on the second startup the lawns acted as though they hadn’t been fertilized at all last fall. Remember how little we mowed this spring? Maybe it was just lack of rain.
• Early summer served us 3 weeks of 90 plus temps with no relief at night which baked lawns to a crispy crust.
• Mid summer delivered lots of rain, hot, and wonderfully humid nights which setup a perfect environment for disease damage.

If it doesn’t rain soon, our crispy crusts will soon be burnt offerings.
I’m thinking we all need a Trouble Area Rejuvenation Program, our own T.A.R.P. Next time I’ll talk more on that!

Remember, Overseeding is just like tucking your kids to bed!

Steps to Grow Grass in the Shade
• Fertilize ½ as much in the shade.
• Plant grass varieties that are more shade tolerant like turf type tall fescue.
• Trim lower tree branches to allow more sunlight to love the grass plants.
• Overseed early in the spring so that the seedlings mature before the trees leaf out.

Growing grass in the shade can be very frustrating if not impossible. This year seemed to be a whole lot worse with all the rain. It seems counter-intuitive but true indeed, extra rain aggravates grass in the shade.

In the summer I spent two days at Rutgers University’s research fields in New Jersey. Originally my goal was to understand disease pressure on turf grass and find the best curatives for the diseases that were harassing us this summer. I was excited to chat with two turf grass professors Dr. Al J. Turgeon, professor of turfgrass management Penn State University and Mr. Richard Buckley, coordinator at Rutgers University Plant Diagnostic Laboratory. Both gentlemen share helpful insight on how to grow grass in the shade.

How to Grow Grass in the Shade (9:55)

Al gives me the goose bumps when he describes how a turf grass community produces its own food photo synthetically. I know I’m a little wacked.
Then Richard barrels in with his no nonsense approach to growing grass in the shade.

Al Turgeon teaches a case studies course in turfgrass management in both resident and online courses at Penn State University. Dr. Turgeon also wrote THE book to the right on Turfgrass Management.

Richard Buckley also teaches various courses at Rutgers.

This is not the last time I will be experiencing the years of wisdom and research these men have amassed.
I like these guys.

What success have you had with grass in the shade?
OR What is your favorite alternative to grass in the shade?

Steps For Fall Lawn Care
• Pick up your leaves or munch them into the ground.
• Take a soil test. Follow the recommendations for calcium and magnesium.
• Apply High nitrogen fertilizer like 34-3-11 or Scotts Step #4.

A few questions about leaves and fall lawn care from Twitter:

@WiseGrass Tip? What can I drop on my lawn now so I’ll have grass by spring?
@WiseGrass Is it better for your lawn to rake your leaves, or to let your leaves decompose on your lawn as to, presumably, fertilize it?

My Response:
@"user" Well, as the temperatures drop the grass prepares to go dormant. So… Like a bear it sucks in all the nutrients it can…
@"user" The big things for your lawn in November are #1 Lime #2 winterizer fertilizer like 34-3-11 #3 remove leaves or mulch ‘em.
@"user" It is too late to start new grass this fall yet, so it’s about nurturing what IS there Overseeding can go next spring!

This is What is Needed for Fall Lawn Care (3:35)

And look at this!
Penn State On Demand has a great Fall Lawn Care video. (4:27)

Before you know it, Spring will be here!