Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Lawns

Ground Cover Alternatives for Shady, High-Traffic Areas Under Trees

A large maple in Central KY has killed grass under its canopy. The expert states grass won't work and suggests bark mulch: it keeps the area clean, requires zero maintenance, and looks nice.

Lawns: Diagnosing Lawn Dieback Under Pine Trees with Webbing; Thin Grass Under Silver Maples: Raise Mow Height, Fertilize Smart; Dead Grass Rings Around Live Oaks: Contaminant Leaching from Planting Hole?; Cracked Soil and Dead Grass Under Trees: Drought, Not Tree Competition; Oak Tree Shade: Why Grass Won't Grow & Alternatives; Grass Dies Under Pecan Tree: Juglone Toxicity Explained; Growing St. Augustine Grass Under Trees: Shade Solutions and Watering Strategies; Why Grass Fails Under Mature Maples and the Best Alternative: Mulch Rings; Managing Lawn Under Dense Maples: Groundcovers Beat Grass; Growing Grass Under Dense Trees: Norway Maple & Apple

Garden Articles

Mossy Soil Under Trees: Algae, Compaction, and Groundcover Alternatives

Should You Remove Grass Before Backfilling a Retaining Wall?

Groundcover Solutions Under Pine Trees and Along Driveways

Growing Plants Under Mature Trees

Building a Raised Patio Under Silver Maples Without Harming Roots

Mulching Pine Trees with Grass Clippings and Leaves

Saving a Shaded Lawn Under Mature Trees: Soil, Seed, and Water

Plants

Landscaping Under Mature Oak and Elm: Shade-Tolerant Wildlife Plantings

Why Planting a Hedge Under Pine Trees Is Nearly Impossible (And What to Do Instead)

Oak Trees and Lawns: Why Grass Fails and What to Do

Landscaping Under Large Trees: Groundcovers, Mulch, and Dog-Friendly Solutions for Clay Soil

St. Augustine Dies in Circle Under Live Oak: Shade or Roots?

Why Grass Fails Under Black Walnut Trees: Allelopathy Explained

Dogwood Decline: Grass Competition, Not Irrigation, Is the Problem