3 years of shade, blood, sweat, and tears

Cool Season Grass Forum
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Huge shoutout to this forum and people like NilesandStuff for all the guidance and inspiration. Growing grass in my yard has felt impossible, with dense shade in the front and back, plus being deep in the Charlotte metro (zone 8a), where grass seems to fight for survival.

This year, I decided to mix things up. I planted high NTEP score Tall Fescue in the sunnier areas and went all-in on 100% A-list fine fescue for the shady spots. But getting the soil ready for fescue was a journey on its own: I had to work on rocky, compacted red clay with low organic matter, a CEC score that was just “meh,” and a pH of 4.9.

It’s been brutal. All my previous efforts have ended in grass dying in the deep shade. This spring was especially rough—constant rain led to a massive fungal attack that wiped out 60% of my lawn in a month. Then, as I was recovering from two knee surgeries, the lawn guys I hired killed another 20% in the summer heat. I thought the fine fescue dream was done for.

But I wasn’t ready to give up. I did a detailed 6-zone soil test, ordered compost, and mixed a custom blend of fertilizers, lime, fungicides, and bio-fungicides. And just as I was about to start, Hurricane Helene hit, dropping trees and limbs everywhere. Then, my aeration guy backed out last minute.

Thankfully, my amazing family stepped in—my 72-year-old dad, my wife (not 72 :laughing:), and even my 2-year-old daughter, who helped pick up branches and acorns :face_holding_back_tears:. With all their help, I finally got the sprinklers going on October 14th, just in time for a sudden cold snap that delayed germination by 4 days.

The Artimuss hormone treatment gave the grass a boost, and when temps climbed back up, the fine fescue finally sprouted. It’s not perfect, but it’s the best it’s looked in years. Now, we’re racing against the first frost and hoping it holds off a bit longer.

Only time will tell. April and May will be the true test, with the tree canopy blocking sunlight and making the lawn damp during fungus season. If this year doesn’t work, I’m done. It’ll be mulch bed time, or maybe the trees will have to go. Fingers crossed

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Looks awesome man. I have some fine fescue in my backyard and I have to seed more next year after some renovations. I really enjoy it. I know some people don’t like it but I enjoy the wispy look of it and I also don’t have to be outside mowing it every week.

I feel you with fighting fungus on the lawn. It was a constant battle for me this year and there was a real learning curve as it was my first year with a lawn. Overall, looks like you did a great job and had to overcome a lot of obstacles.

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curative fungicide beforehand… fungal innoculants and preventative bio fungicides.

You almost lost me for a second and then you pulled me back in :wink:

Looks fantastic, bummer to hear the first swing in the back didn’t take. That’s the curse and blessing of fine fescues (especially on clay), a real pain to get going… But true survivors once you do.

Bravo :ok_hand:

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Wow…that’s a lot of work! Props for sticking to it haha.

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Looks incredible!! I have a struggling, shaded backyard in northeast GA with trees on 3 sides & house blocking most sun til late afternoon. It’s been HARD the last 2 years (I’m new here). I’ve tried many diff things. The sod my landscapers laid was zoysia but I recently seeded fescue in the super bare areas that keep dying.
Looks like soil test is in my future.

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@Blaire
Many thanks!

Absolutely recommend a soil test. Split out trouble areas into as many zones as you can afford/stand.

Also, for troublesome areas, just digging up the soil to see what it looks like down there never hurts. Rocks, soil compaction, or other debris will prevent the roots from growing deep and healthy.

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@Sterling
My landscapers actually brought in dirt then leveled it, and I’ve added top soil like 4 times at this point. This backyard was fully redone in late 2022 - some small bushes and a very small tree were removed and a creek was moved back about 6 feet, so maybe all of that is causing the issue also. But the main areas that won’t grow grass (or start to, but dies out) is where it’s flat near my home. I think it just stays too damp in that area. That used to be an area where it was mostly moss when I first saw the home. I’ve added some sand, maybe it needs more?

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Well done! If you have a power washer, I’d power wash the sidewalk/driveway. It’ll make your lawn pop.

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Micah said:
Well done! If you have a power washer, I’d power wash the sidewalk/driveway. It’ll make your lawn pop.

Oh, absolutely. You should see the state of my retaining wall :joy:. Look back in my old posts for a good laugh.

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I just went from 6 to midnight, bravo.

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Excellent work. We’re building a new home in Charlotte right now and this confirms my plan to go a different route. In my younger single days I put in a similar effort to get beautiful fescue under some large maples. It’s just constant work. Plan for the new house is Bermuda and grass in as few places as possible. Thankfully we will be closer to one of the nicer parks in town and hoping the kids’ need for a yard can be filled there.