If you live in Lake Mary, Sanford, or anywhere in Central Florida, you probably have at least one big oak tree dropping shade across half your yard. And right under that tree? Bare dirt or scraggly patches.

The Best Grass for Florida Shade

St. Augustine – Palmetto or CitraBlue

Palmetto handles partial shade well – areas that get 4 to 5 hours of filtered sunlight. CitraBlue has a tighter growth habit and better disease resistance.

Zoysia – Empire or Innovation

Empire Zoysia tolerates moderate shade and has a thick, carpet-like feel. It handles foot traffic better than St. Augustine.

Bahia – Not Great for Shade

Bahia struggles in shade. Skip it for shaded areas.

How Much Shade Is Too Much?

No turfgrass thrives in full dense shade. If an area gets less than 3 hours of any sunlight, consider mulch beds or ground cover instead. For areas with 4+ hours of filtered sunlight, Palmetto or Empire Zoysia work well.

Tips for Shady Lawns

• Raise your mowing height to 3.5-4 inches
• Trim your trees to let more light through
• Water correctly – shady areas need less irrigation
• Reduce foot traffic on shade-stressed grass

Ready to Fix Your Shady Yard?

DeAngelos Land Services installs shade-tolerant sod across Lake Mary, Sanford, Orlando, and Central Florida. BBB A+ rated, Google Guaranteed, 164+ five-star reviews. 10% veteran discount.

Call (386) 675-2303 or contact us online.