A word to the wise, if you ever encounter a grass-lover on a shiny new lawn tractor mowing the dirt underneath some shade trees, be sure you have a good head start if you decide to tell him that grass won't grow in the shade. It is true that some grass species are more shade tolerant than others, but lawn grass simply will not grow in the shade. Now that your suspicions about growing grass in the shade have been confirmed don't fall for the latest marketing ploy. Don't buy a bag of grass seed labeled extra super shady grass mix plus or whatever they're calling it this year. If you have shade, try planting ground covers.
Ground covers are an effective lawn substitute in areas too shady to support the growth of grasses.
Wide-spreading ground covers engulf large areas with a carpet of foliage, and in some cases flowers. Many ground covers are drought resistant, and once established may reduce the need for irrigation. They eliminate costly and time-consuming maintenance such as mowing, edging and trimming. Finally, ground covers add texture and help to unify a landscape. Proper planting is important for ground covers to grow and spread rapidly.