Defining Shade Levels for Lawn Grass: Light, Filtered, Partial, Full, Dense

Bob Westerfield (GA Master Gardener coordinator) defines:

• Light Shade: fully shaded 2–4 hrs during heat of day.
• Filtered Shade: shaded all day but sun shafts penetrate; effectively 2–4 hrs shade.
• Partial Shade: 4–5 hrs shade.
• Full Shade: all day under multi-story canopy or building; some reflected light.
• Dense Shade: darkest day-long shade; no reflected light (under dense low-branched tree like magnolia or dense grove).