Question about grass, man

September 28, 2009 8:43 PM

I'm looking for grass for my backyard, but we have two major problems. The ground is wet pretty much all the time because it's so low. I'm told it barely perked enough when they did the perk test for the septic tank (the main field lines are in the front, only the emergency overflow lines are in the back, and our system is properly sending all liquid to the front). Also, the yard is very shady. Some parts never get sun and at most some parts get 4-5 hours a day. Unfortunately, cutting down trees isn't an option.

I was hoping someone could either recommend a grass suited for my situation or point me to a website with some kind of a grass database I could search. (btw, I live near Birmingham, AL)

I know I can talk to local landscapers, and I will, but I want to query the hive first.

Thanks.

posted by atm to home & garden (7 comments total)

Birmingham can be tough. I would make two suggestions.

1) Based on your water problem, you seem to need a French drain. Either hire a professional, or use this little guide and some internet searching to help you.

Survey your backyard and determine where the water is pooling. Is the whole yard covered in water or is there just a big puddle in one spot? If its the former, then you may need grading work, which requires a professional. Also remember that its against the law to change drainage in any way that will negatively impact your neighbors. But if there's a simple pooling problem resulting in one big puddle, that can be fixed.

Go to Wal-Mart and buy one of those big twenty gallon trash barrels (the cheapest one, obviously) and enough gravel to fill it up. You will also want to buy the black plastic tubing that is perforated.

Dig a hole in the ground big enough for the barrel. Drill dozens of holes in the barrel. Fill the barrel with gravel and place it in the hole. Cover it with gravel. Now dig trenches to either side running the length of the puddle. Put black tubing in the trenches. Cover with gravel. Then cover with dirt. You should have lots of extra dirt to ensure there are no valleys for water to pool.

2) Regarding grass. My favorite grass for Alabama is Zoysia "Empire Turf"--it handles heat well and most other conditions. You should consult a local nursery to be sure what you pick up is right for your yard. There's a nursery just behind The Summit that I used to visit in Cahaba Heights--they should be helpful.

If you have extreme shade like many Mountain Brook yards? I highly, highly suggest you plant beds of shade-tolerant perennials like ferns and hostas. Really nice looking lawns require full-time care the likes of which few of us can afford. Moisture and shade are perfect for a beautiful hosta garden, though.

Hope this helps.
posted by jefficator at 9:01 PM on September 28

Look beyond grass types to herbs etc. Shady, wet area says mint lawn to me.
This thread may have some tips also.
posted by Kerasia at 9:03 PM on September 28

Thanks guys.

I'm really wanting a grass, for the thorough ground cover, to minimize, as much as possible, the amount of dirt/mud my two little dogs track back into the house.
posted by atm at 9:55 PM on September 28

Also, I meant to say I've looked into putting in some french drain lines around the yard, but I'm not able to do the work myself, and the cost to have it done is too much for me right now.
posted by atm at 9:58 PM on September 28

You might consider some kind of sedge in the Carex genus, they can be grass-like and tolerant of wet soils. Or, you might try contacting your county extension service or as jefficator says, a nursery.
posted by Red Loop at 3:04 AM on September 29

Can you plant a couple of weeping willow, red maple, or other trees that like swampy conditions? When I bought my house in VA I had water retention issues in my backyard. I called the county and got the erosion control guy to come out. he said I could spend $5000 putting in a french drain system, or plant a couple of trees in the low sports and it would be much better in a year. It was much better in a year. Although in my case, I had full sun in the yard. I'm not sure how well this would work in a very shady yard.
posted by COD at 5:37 AM on September 29

I know you want grass but if your purpose is to reduce the amount of mud your dogs carry into the house why not consider moss. Moss is beautiful, it is sturdy to walk on, it grows in the exact conditions you've explained your yard having and its cheap and easy. You could also through in a rock garden and cover the rocks with moss if you wanted to do something a bit zen.

If you are interested here is a link:
http://www.ehow.com/how_11697_grow-moss-garden.html

Good luck!
posted by gypseefire at 7:28 AM on September 29