Question
We are located near Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  We have a south facing backyard that is shaded in the summer with our Maple tree (30 feet) and our neighbour's to the east (60 feet).

I tried shade grass seed as a test this year and it did not work very well.  Can you suggest any alternative ground cover that will work with two very active children and our shade dilema?

Answer
Mark,

That's a lot of shade, but lack of light is only part of the problem.
Not only are the maples out-competing the grass for light, but they're also working hard to get their share of water and nutrients with their roots, many of which tend to be right around the surface.
And since shade tolerant grasses tend to need more water, grass tends to lose this one.

Alternatives:

1.  Do nothing.  I've chosen this before.  I don't call it being defeated, I call it being realistic.  Spreading trees with manicured lawns exist in magazines, not the real world.  Big maples-thin grass.  They go together.  Clean up the pattern some, leaving just dirt in a nice circle shape under the tree.

2.  Alt #1 + add a durable(kid proof)mulch on the dirt circle.  Here in Oregon, bark chips (larger not smaller & dusty), or just wood chips are what's cheap & available.  Chips are often used in playgrounds around here.


3.  Try for grass again, but with more help for the grass.  Add a layer of compost to the thin/bare areas.  Wait for temperatures to get up to grass seed germination temps...soil=50篎,  reseed, but add fertilizer and water regularly through growing season.

4.  When temps are back up, forget the seed, go for sod.  Pre-grown grass you can put in place for fast results.  A little spendy.  It will look magazine-like for a while, but sod won't last any longer than seed if you don't help it.  It's in hostile territory.  Water regularly, and fertilizer maybe every 4-6 weeks.

5.  Okay, 1-4 were stalls, because I can't think of a groundcover that can survive a maple tree + kids.  There are some varieties of English ivy, maybe, but ivy gets invasive fast, and it produces a very irritating (to nose and throat) dust in the summer.  Pachysandra might survive the maple and shade, but it's not durable.  If you're willing to water, there are some ornamental strawberry varieties, including evergreen strawberries, that might work.  They're grown for flower and foliage, not the little seedy (but safe) fruit they produce.

Sorry to go on.  While kids are little, I'd go with an organic mulch (#2), with no kind
of barrier under it.  Spray out weeds with vinegar as needed.  When kids get bigger and stop playing back there, I'd go for #5.

Mark in Portland