Learn why grass isn't growing under your trees and explore ways to fix it.
Why Grass Won’t Grow Under Your Trees—and How to Fix It
Published on Mar. 11, 2025
Growing grass can be a time-consuming, expensive process that is made particularly more difficult under trees. I’m always amazed when I see thick, green grass growing right up to a tree in a golf course or public park. It makes me wonder, “Why can’t I grow grass under my trees?”
The answer isn’t so simple, as there are many reasons it’s such a challenge. If you’re wondering why grass won’t grow under your trees, read on for our troubleshooting guide and practical solutions from two lawn care experts Joe Churchill from Reinders and Ryan Mange from CMS Landscaping.
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Why Won’t Grass Grow Around My Trees?
The ground beneath a tree is not an ideal environment for grass to grow. It’s shady, the soil is often compacted or nutrient-deficient and root systems have to compete with trees for resources. “Grass growing under tree canopies is not a practice that is natural for either the grass or the tree,” Mange says. Here are some reasons why:
Not enough sunlight
Grass requires at least four hours of sunlight per day to stay alive, but most do best with six to eight. Tree branches and leaves can create dense shade beneath them, making it difficult for grass to grow.
Solutions: Choose a shade-tolerant grass variety like a fine fescue blend. Prune tree branches to allow more sunlight to reach the grass. “Raise the canopy of the tree by selectively removing lower branches at the bottom of your trees,” Churchill says. “If it’s a heavy leaf canopy, you may have to throw in the towel and consider ground covers that do well in heavy shade.”
Compacted soil
The soil around trees often gets compacted by foot traffic and lawn care equipment, making it difficult for grass to take hold and grow. “Trying to force grass growth in areas with poor soils is always a recipe for disappointment,” Mange says.
Solutions: Rent a plug aerator to aerate the soil under trees. Also, try to reduce foot traffic and use different mowing patterns when cutting your lawn.
Acidic soil
The soil under pine trees often becomes acidic from pine needles dropping and decaying into it. Grass seed prefers a neutral pH and won’t grow in high-acid soil.
Solutions: Keep pine needles cleaned up below the tree and add lime to the soil, reducing the pH.
Dry soil
Deeper, more prolific tree roots quickly absorb rainfall and water from irrigation systems. This can leave the soil under trees too dry to support grass.
Solutions: “Manage moisture under trees by adding additional water over and above what is supplied by irrigation,” Churchill says. Deep and infrequent watering is the most effective.
Competing for nutrients
When planted so near a tree, grass can lose the competition for soil nutrients. “Trees are very good at outcompeting grass for water, nutrients and sunlight,” Mange says. “[They] have evolved to be very adept at discouraging neighboring plants.”
Solutions: Consider giving the tree additional fertilizer to free up soil nutrients for the grass. Top-dress the lawn with a light layer of organic compost, or try a slow-release nitrogen fertilizer.
FAQ
What should I put around my trees to make grass grow?
To help grass grow, you can put compost, lime and shade-tolerant grass around your trees. Lime neutralizes acidic soil to a level conducive to grass. Shade-tolerant grass seed has the best chance of growing into a healthy lawn. Amend the soil with compost to add the nutrients grass needs to grow.
Should I consider artificial grass around my trees?
Artificial grass can be an option around a tree, as long as it is designed to allow rainwater to reach the tree’s roots. Avoid installing artificial grass at the base of young trees to avoid suffocating developing root systems. Add a ring of mulch around the tree base first. Artificial grass under trees does require maintenance, as leaves and debris will stain if left to decay for too long.
About the Experts
- Joe Churchill is a Senior Turf Specialist with Wisconsin-based Reinders, a major distributor of lawn care products in the Midwest. He has over 25 years of experience in the turfgrass industry, is certified in Turfgrass Management with a B.A. in Geography and Horticulture from the University of Minnesota.
- Ryan Mange is a Lawn/Plant Health Manager at CMS Landscaping, a full-service lawn care and irrigation company in Holyoke, Massachusetts. He is also an International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist.
