April 18, 2008
What do I do if my lawn and trees are competeing for the same nutrients and the lawn is losing?
What do I do if my lawn and trees are competeing for the same nutrients and the lawn is losing?
Veronica
Expert
This is a common problem--the spot under a mature tree is just not a good place for turf grass. The trees deprive the grass of water, light and nutrients.
You can try pruning out some branches to allow more light to reach the ground. You can also fertilize the lawn in spring and fall -- just don't apply more than the recommended amount of nitrogen, which harms the grass in the long run.An attractive alternative is to replace the grass with a shade-loving groundcover, such as lirope, vinca, hostas, ferns, or others. You can mix them to create a shade garden. These plants thrive in shade, and their root systems are substaintial enough that they can get what they need without harming the tree.Join this conversation.
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