You have one or more large trees in your garden and want a lush green lawn, like they show in the TV ads. So, what do you do to achieve that? You may go ahead and buy a well-known shade-tolerant sod, such as St. Augustine. Then you roll it under the big oak tree in your garden, thinking your dream of a natural green carpet is coming to reality. Some people even post a picture on their Facebook profiles in excitement! What happens after a few weeks? The sod starts drying up and gets brownish.
You have to understand, shade tolerant is not akin to not getting sunlight for 6 hours per day. Shade from a building is not the same as tree shade. An oak tree does not just take away sunshine from the sod. It also takes away nutrients and water from the soil. The result is your sod turning dull and lifeless–despite your best efforts.
Getting To The Roots Of The Big Tree
Have you ever tried to check the massive and deep root structure of an oak tree? The twisted network of roots resembling a huge beard will make you awestruck. Your sod will not be able to push roots through that labyrinth. Can you ever lay a blanket on concrete and make it into a forest?
It is not only about the oak tree roots that you need to think about. The soil in the area needs some attention too. In areas where old oak trees have been existing for decades, the top layer of soil is gone. The surface is crusty and it does not allow moisture to seep in. Your sod will struggle to survive there – forget about growth! Using land-digging equipment will not help much either.
Watering Will Not Be Of Much Use
You can keep watering the sod, maybe twice a day. But where is the water going eventually? The grand old oak tree will soak in all the water. It has got deep roots like straws and they will outshine your sod. At the end of the day, your sod roots will get leftover water.
What if you resort to deep watering? That soil underneath won’t absorb much of it. Why? Well, the oak tree roots have spread there, too! The new sod roots will still find it hard to access water.
The irrigation patterns under such big trees can be tricky. The big branches will block the spray. So, you will find that you have watered the sidewalk more than the actual ground. The result will be anything but satisfying.
The Tree Will Choke Out The Sod, Eventually
It is not only that your sod roots will be overpowered by the massive and deep roots of the oak tree. There are other factors to consider as well. Oak trees drop a lot of stuff on the ground and the sod beneath it. These include- yellow pollen fuzz, leaves, twigs, catkins, etc. These build up like a layer or thick blanket over the grass below. The sod gets little air and light after a time. Can you breathe properly through a damp quilt?
The leaves may also leach tannins into the soil. There are instances of people seeing their grass dying after a storm drops plenty of oak leaves onto the ground. The bottom line is whatever falls from the oak does not help the sod much. It is not like pine needles that at least emit some fragrance.
What About The People Whose Lawn Looks Just Fine?
What if you find a neighbor’s lawn looking picture perfect, even under a big tree? That does not reveal the entire picture. Ask the neighbor how many times they’ve opted for re-seeding. They must have spent countless hours fertilizing the ground and using equipment to keep the soil in shape.
Another thing could be maybe that oak tree is not very big or deep-rooted. Besides, the tree may be on the house’s north side and so gets more morning sun. They may have cut down the canopy as well. There can be many such small variables that alter the overall picture.
Then there are people who hire lawn care experts to tackle such tricky situations professionally. That aspect they do not share when sharing the images on Facebook or Instagram!
So, What Are Your Options?
Okay, so you do not want to give up the dream of growing a lush lawn beneath that old oak tree in the backyard. However, you will have to reset your expectations looking at the ground reality. You will not be able to get a lawn resembling the lush texture of a golf course! There can be a few patches here and there.
Another way out is thinning out the canopy of that tree. However, do not go overboard while doing so. You can get it done professionally to ensure the turf below gets some more natural light.
Also, ensure you improve the soil quality. Take professional advice if it is required, but using quality compost does help. You can try with rugged grass species that can survive extreme conditions. Two examples are – mondo grass or monkey grass.
Additionally, you have to master the art of watering the lawn. It is better that you water the turf during early morning. If you still find the grass is not growing the way you want beneath that tree, change your plan a little. Set up a bench and some artificial grass in that area, for a change.
