what to do with shady yard? (house, summer, grass)

[hikernut]

Our house is built in an old pecan grove, and some parts of the yard are in heavy shade all day. The original owners planted dichondra in the back yard, which does fine in the shade. They put bermuda grass in the front, which is largely dead now except in a few spots where some sun gets through.

The winter rye grass looks great in the front, but is completely dead by beginning of June, even in the shade. We're thining about putting down St Augustine, as it's supposed to do better in the shade. But from what I'm reading it sounds like even this grass wants a few hours of direct sun every day? And I've read that it doesn't overseed as well for winter.

So I'm not sure what to do. Don't want to spend a lot on new sod only to see the front yard in dirt a year or two down the road. And don't want any more dichondra.

Ideas?

hikernut

[pbenjamin]

We put Palmetto St. Augustine sod in our back yard last summer and it has done very well. The yard is shaded much of the time and there are parts that don't get direct sun at all. One thing to know is that they don't recommend overseeding St. Augustine with winter rye. We left it alone in the winter, it went semi-dormant but not nearly as browned out as a bermudagrass lawn would be. It also snapped back a lot earlier than bermudagrass would.

[hikernut]

Thanks for sharing your experience.

hikernut