OT: have dirt, need not dirt

[horshack.sixpack]

I have about a 700 sqft patch of dirt that sits to the West of my shop, with a large oak tree about 20 yards to the West. It gets some direct sun daily, but is mostly shaded by either the shop or the tree. roughly 700 sqft is not under oak limbs and I think has a chance at something growing. I don't care if it is grass, ground cover, whatever, I need something besides dirt. SPS experts activate.

 

[DesotoCountyDawg]

I have about a 700 sqft patch of dirt that sits to the West of my shop, with a large oak tree about 20 yards to the West. It gets some direct sun daily, but is mostly shaded by either the shop or the tree. roughly 700 sqft is not under oak limbs and I think has a chance at something growing. I don't care if it is grass, ground cover, whatever, I need something besides dirt. SPS experts activate.

View attachment 851707

Not many grass options for that little sun. Maybe could do something like some English ivy

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Cut down the tree, add sod, water it a bunch.

 

[patdog]

Since i have a similar situation with my yard, I Googled and came up with this.

https://extension.msstate.edu/easy-groundcovers-for-mississippi-lawns

 

[thatsbaseball]

Asiatic Jasmine. Jus keep your edger handy.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Asiatic Jasmine. Jus keep your edger handy.

In that part of the yard I don’t much care how far it goes.

 

[Colonel Angus.sixpack]

If your climate will support it, I’ve found that St Aug does better than advertised in the shade. If it’s a ton of shade it may not be the best solution though. My shady area does get a little light in the late afternoon

 

[vhdawg]

Crap, I thought you were offering free dirt. I need a little bit of free dirt, but not a lot.

 

[thatsbaseball]

In that part of the yard I don’t much care how far it goes.

LOL I'll remember you said that.

 

[RocketDawg]

Kentucky 31 Fescue.

 

[Dawgg]

Asiatic Jasmine. Jus keep your edger handy.

I was coming here to say the same. It takes it a season or so to really get going, but once it’s established, it’s a solid ground cover.

Vinca can be a good option too.

 

[Car Ramrod.sixpack]

Don't plant English Ivy. Once you get it established it is hard to control and some places have outlawed it. It can take over / kill an entire stand of timber.

I have had had good luck with Asian Jasmine and Vinca Minor.

 

[jethreauxdawg]

Have you tried Kudzu?

 

[The Peeper]

Euonymus coloratus (Purple Wintercreeper)-Evergreen (keeps leaves in winter) starts out green in spring and goes to maroon in fall winter. Spreads well, Zone 4-9. I've ordered it in small 2" pots and bare root. It ships in boxes of damp newspaper

 

[Willow Grove Dawg]

***KUDZU**

 

[T-TownDawgg]

Mondo grass. Tolerance for shade. Grows slow. Feels great on bare feet.

 

[SanfordRJones]

Not many grass options for that little sun. Maybe could do something like some English ivy

English ivy is invasive. Don't plant that. So is asiatic Jasmine, vinca, mondo grass, and wintercreeper, so basically everything being suggested in this thread. How about a shade tolerant native like buckeye, witch hazel, hydrangeas, azaleas, sedges, etc? I have hydrangeas and azaleas in my yard in deep shade, and they both do well (Zone 7b in Alabama).

ETA mondo grass as also invasive

 

[T-TownDawgg]

English ivy is invasive. Don't plant that. So is asiatic Jasmine, vinca, and wintercreeper, so basically everything being suggested in this thread. How about a shade tolerant native like buckeye, witch hazel, hydrangeas, azaleas, sedges, etc? I have hydrangeas and azaleas in my yard in deep shade, and they both do well (Zone 7b in Alabama).

Semes Beauty hydrangea do great in mid/late day shade.

 

[msstatelp1]

Can you trim a few limbs to get more sun?

 

[johnson86-1]

I have about a 700 sqft patch of dirt that sits to the West of my shop, with a large oak tree about 20 yards to the West. It gets some direct sun daily, but is mostly shaded by either the shop or the tree. roughly 700 sqft is not under oak limbs and I think has a chance at something growing. I don't care if it is grass, ground cover, whatever, I need something besides dirt. SPS experts activate.

View attachment 851707

17 you for getting my hopes up about being able to pick up some free dirt and then turning it into a gardening thread.**

 

[horshack.sixpack]

17 you for getting my hopes up about being able to pick up some free dirt and then turning it into a gardening thread.**

Sorry. Completely unintentional bait title. Hadn’t viewed it from that angle. I actually also need some dirt…

 

[YesIAmAPirate]

I second Kentucky 31. Had bare spots under several trees and planted some last September. It looks great under there now

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Crap, I thought you were offering free dirt. I need a little bit of free dirt, but not a lot.

I found a "good" dirt guy. He has not done the work yet so i cannot confirm that "good" = good, yet.

 

[Bulldog Bruce]

One I like, that my wife doesn't, is Monkey Grass / Lilyturf / Liriope. Once it establishes it grows thick and prevents weeds from getting in there.

 

[SanfordRJones]

One I like, that my wife doesn't, is Monkey Grass / Lilyturf / Liriope. Once it establishes it grows thick and prevents weeds from getting in there.

Liriope is also considered invasive in the southeast.

 

[cowbell88]

Concrete and extend the shop.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Concrete and extend the shop.

cannot get that past the finance committee. remember, I'm still working on passing legislation to fund the golf simulator

 

[jethreauxdawg]

cannot get that past the finance committee. remember, I'm still working on passing legislation to fund the golf simulator

We’re all pulling for you.

 

[SRB Dawg]

I have about a 700 sqft patch of dirt that sits to the West of my shop, with a large oak tree about 20 yards to the West. It gets some direct sun daily, but is mostly shaded by either the shop or the tree. roughly 700 sqft is not under oak limbs and I think has a chance at something growing. I don't care if it is grass, ground cover, whatever, I need something besides dirt. SPS experts activate.

 

[SRB Dawg]

El toro zoysia. It is more shade tolerant than other zoysia.

 

[Villagedawg]

Felder Rushing says mondo grass.

 

[vhdawg]

Felder Rushing says mondo grass.

Is Felder still alive? That dude's been around forever.

 

[Villagedawg]

Is Felder still alive? That dude's been around forever.

As far as I know he is. Still doing shows.

 

[Dawgbite]

Nothing will grow under or near an oak tree. At least grass wise. Gravel is your only option. If you want something green, paint the gravel.

 

[HotMop]

I have about a 700 sqft patch of dirt that sits to the West of my shop, with a large oak tree about 20 yards to the West. It gets some direct sun daily, but is mostly shaded by either the shop or the tree. roughly 700 sqft is not under oak limbs and I think has a chance at something growing. I don't care if it is grass, ground cover, whatever, I need something besides dirt. SPS experts activate.

View attachment 851707

Plant mint, you'll love it.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

El toro zoysia. It is more shade tolerant than other zoysia.

had not heard of this. it's an option but it ain't cheap. looks like about $750 to do what i need

 

[onewoof]

 

[jethreauxdawg]

had not heard of this. it's an option but it ain't cheap. looks like about $750 to do what i need

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Nothing will grow under or near an oak tree. At least grass wise. Gravel is your only option. If you want something green, paint the gravel.

this is actually the space that is not under the tree. It's just limited sub because the shop shades it in the morning and the tree casts shade late afternoon. it gets some midday sun.

 

[horshack.sixpack]

Plant mint, you'll love it.

"very wet soil" might screw me for mint. oak tree soaks up everything around