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We have two large, no huge Crepe Mytle trees in our backyard. Both of them are shading the St. Augustine grass to the point the grass is getting thin. There's no way to thin the trees to let enough sun light in, so I was wondering if putting some type of grow lights under the trees would work. I want to run them during the day rather than at night, but that shouldn't matter.

Does anyone have any experience with lights for this purpose? What type of light would be required, spacing, etc.

Thanks,
Chas.

Have you thought of large mirrors or just something to reflect more light.

I use grow lights for plants and lizards.. but area lighted is very small sqft (38sqft) wise compared to what you're talking about.(a couple of hundred sqft?, more?)

The electricity draw for lights capable of providing the coverage you looking for may be considerable. And the lights them self a considerable investment.
Alas, outdoor use like you're asking about I have no specific experience with.

Very interesting and will watch this thread.

Have you thought about converting that area to a shade tolerant ground cover? I donot think you can accomplish your goal with lights.

suthdj wrote:Have you thought of large mirrors or just something to reflect more light.

I have thought about it and if I can figure a way to do it, that would be the preferred method.

Chas.

OldGrumpy wrote:Have you thought about converting that area to a shade tolerant ground cover? I donot think you can accomplish your goal with lights.

Yeah, I think lights are out. A few years ago, A&M was working on a strain of St. Augustine grass that would grow in the shade, but I don't know if they ever developed a marketable product.

Chas.

Be careful, Chas. I don't want to see this headline:

"Entire DEA SWAT team, investigating suspected marijuana farm, gunned down by radical weapons stockpiler."

Monkey grass and ferns are what I use.

I have similar problem - Mine is oak tree next to equally large bradford pear
Ive thinned the oak a number of times but I still have a bare spot between it and the house

Mine in front so lights and reflective stuff wouldnt be doable

If I was determined to try to help the grass in the back I might try putting reflective foil backed foam ( sold for insulation ) on the fence and garage
The trouble is that the angle will change all day - unless you get enough diffuse light to get things growing

I had the same problem and spent a lot of money thinning out my trees until I finally gave up, tilled up my front yard and put in a shade tolerant ground cover. Within a year it had completely covered the area and I still have my shade. I then did it for portions of the back yard.
Now I have green on the ground and a lot less to mow

MasterOfNone wrote:Be careful, Chas. I don't want to see this headline:

"Entire DEA SWAT team, investigating suspected marijuana farm, gunned down by radical weapons stockpiler."

What I was thinking.

We had a similar problem with two very large Holly's that bookended our front entryway. Not only was the St. Augustine thinning, but their "presence" was dominating the curb appeal. In the end we opted to remove the offending trees and were amazed by how much more "open" the front of the house looks. It was like we gave the house a face lift. And the grass is much happier too.

MasterOfNone wrote:Be careful, Chas. I don't want to see this headline:

"Entire DEA SWAT team, investigating suspected marijuana farm, gunned down by radical weapons stockpiler."

Charles L. Cotton wrote:

OldGrumpy wrote:Have you thought about converting that area to a shade tolerant ground cover? I donot think you can accomplish your goal with lights.

Yeah, I think lights are out. A few years ago, A&M was working on a strain of St. Augustine grass that would grow in the shade, but I don't know if they ever developed a marketable product.

Chas.

I have the same problem on the north side of my house under a large tree. I re-sodded with St. Augustine and thinned the tree out so at least some light would get through. Have to thin it annually, but the small amount of sunlight it gets keeps the grass live and healthy.

We used to hang bird feeders filled with Bermuda seed...the birds would constantly drop seed below the tree. The grass never matured but you constantly had young Bermuda sprouting up...