Question
I just bought my first home.  I have always been a huge fan of giant oak trees...it's fitting that my first home has 4 (.75 acre corner lot)  My question is how they are affecting the soil for the rest of the lawn.  The grass grows thin and patchy even outside the drip line.  1) what groundcover should go under the trees? 2) should i feed/fertilize the lawn with something to encourage growth

Answer
Hi Jeffrey,

Oak trees can be somewhat allelopathic, which means that the roots exude a substance that inhibits other plans from growing. Combine this with the shade from the leaves, and you have a pretty tough time growing decent grass.

Without cutting down the trees, you really can't control either problem. That said, I'd recommend spreading a nice looking bark mulch under the trees in all the areas where the grass won't grow well. There's no use fighting Mother Nature in a battle that you can't win, right?

Good luck!

-C.J. Brown
www.TheLawnCoach.com