Keeping turf grass alive in shade in Oklahoma is quite challenging. Heavy shade created by dense canopies of trees in small residential areas creates an environment that is far from desirable for turf grasses.
Bermuda grass, both common and hybrid, require 6 hours of sun to live and 8+ hours to thrive and spread. Fescue grass, which is moderately shade-tolerant and is commonly planted in shady areas, generally requires 3 to 4 hours of filtered sunlight per day. For bare areas in light shade establishing fescue is a viable option. If you would like to try to seed your bare areas yourself, see our helpful instructions on our "How to seed bare area in your lawn" web page. Areas of dense shade however, will not be suitable for even maintaining fescue.
Under such circumstances, stresses such as poor light quality and quantity, competition for water and nutrients, poor air movement and leaf litter usually result in failure to establish a lawn. If all attempts at establishing a turf grass have failed, you may want to consider shade tolerant perennial flowers, ground covers, rocked or mulched beds.
Perennials and ground covers that tend to compete well with trees for water and nutrients once established are:
• English ivy (Hedera helix).
• Carpet bugleweed (Ajuga reptans).
• Common periwinkle (Vinca minor, V. major).
Other plants that may be considered depending on available light and water are:
For deep shade
Sweet violet (Viola odor-ata), black mondo grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus Ar-abicus), Japanese painted fern (Athyrium. nipponicum var. Return), yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdo-lon), sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum); lily-of-the-valley (Convallariamajalis).
Also/Allegheny spurge (Pachysandra procumbens), Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia), crested iris (Iris cristata), wild gingers (Asarum spp.).
For light shade
Moneywort, creeping jenny (Lysima-chia nummularia), bishop's goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria 'Variegatum'), dwarf mondo grass (Ophiopogon japoni-cus), carpet bugleweed (Ajuga reptans), spotted deadnetde (Lamium macula-turn), liriope, lily-turf (Liriope muscari, L Spicata), hostas, plantain lily (Hosta spp.), strawberry geranium (Saxifraga stolonifera).
Also, yellow archangel (Lamiastrum galeobdolon), partridgeberry (Mitchetta repens), lenten rose (Helleborus orienr talis), woodland phlox (Phlox divaricataX AUeghany spurge (Pachysandra procumbens), Japanese pachysandra (Pachysandra terminalis), crested iris (Iris cristata), wild gingers (Asarum spp.) and epimediums (Epimedium spp.)