- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
What do I do with this mess?
Posted on 9/13/25 at 9:03 am
Posted on 9/13/25 at 9:03 am
I'm looking for ideas on how to handle my back yard. Big trees, so nothing will grow but trash. I cleared this out about 6 months ago. Help me make it beautiful. Texas native/prairie that can survive the heat and shade seems to be my thoughts. Ignore the Crepe that is screaming for sun. The Oaks are about 20 years old and the Crepe Myrtle had no chance.
9
Posted on 9/13/25 at 9:19 am to NBR_Exile
Create beds of shade loving perennial ground cover.
Lamium
Ajuga
Texas Sedge
Hostas here and there
Maybe some hydrangeas
Most prairie options are going to be sun loving native grasses.
Lamium
Ajuga
Texas Sedge
Hostas here and there
Maybe some hydrangeas
Most prairie options are going to be sun loving native grasses.
Posted on 9/13/25 at 9:27 am to LSUfan20005
I just took those photos so morning sun is filtered at best. Evening sun is worse. The first picture is facing North so the fence and other trees shade that area plenty.
This post was edited on 9/13/25 at 9:29 am
Posted on 9/13/25 at 9:39 am to NBR_Exile
Try El Toro Zoysia. If you don't have sod in your area get some plugs from NCGrassPlugs
Posted on 9/13/25 at 9:44 am to ELLSSUU
The Bull grass? Sounds awesome. The ground under the trees is pretty dense. Mostly clay I guess. Amending is probably required. I'm looiking for tough stuff that will grow anywhere.
Posted on 9/13/25 at 9:56 am to NBR_Exile
Get a tray next spring. Fertilize every 6 weeks during the growing season. Split the 38 plugs between three places in your yard and give them a year. Mine have done great in dappled shade and compacted soil.
Posted on 9/13/25 at 10:31 am to ELLSSUU
What grass? St. Aug is in the first third, not shown in the pictures but im grass agnostic
Posted on 9/13/25 at 3:41 pm to NBR_Exile
Thinking outside the box maybe a pond with a water feature? Would take care of the bad area & water features are relaxing.
Posted on 9/14/25 at 7:58 pm to NBR_Exile
If you want a turf lawn in that space, you may be SOL. I can't think of a turf grass that will grow in that much shade. I have a similarly shady yard in the Houston area, and have added garden beds everywhere in the shade and basically have enough lawn in one spot to play cornhole on.
Posted on 9/15/25 at 4:04 am to NBR_Exile
I had a similar problem and a landscaper told me to get a bag of lime and spread it out in the bad areas where the grass was not growing. It did help in my case.
Posted on 9/15/25 at 8:19 am to NBR_Exile
Have the trees thinned to allow more sun to filter through. It can make an amazing difference, but they have to be done right.
Thin interior limbs from throughout the crown, not just cut the ends off of limbs.
Thin interior limbs from throughout the crown, not just cut the ends off of limbs.
Posted on 9/15/25 at 11:26 am to NBR_Exile
Folks will have a lot of suggestions, but over yr]ears of trying, I haven’t found anything that thrives in shade. I have some areas like that in my yard. I have tried hostas, monkey grass, azaleas, etc. most of it will grow however, it will not thrive.
Posted on 9/15/25 at 12:41 pm to NBR_Exile
I see shade and am envious. I have a shadeless back yard.
Posted on 9/15/25 at 1:32 pm to tigerfoot
quote:
I have a shadeless back yard.
Plant some trees. Then you’ll be where I am complaining about too much shade.
This post was edited on 9/15/25 at 1:34 pm
Posted on 9/15/25 at 1:38 pm to Spankum
I’ve been in Houston almost 30 years. I get it. Grass will not grow under the trees. Is there some type of native/ pasture grass that can take the shade?
Page 1 of 1
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News