Question
QUESTION: My front lawn is covered with trees. Every year I plant grass and its fine until later in the summer when it dies. I fertilize. There just seems to be too many trees and roots. Can I still have a nice lawn? My neighbors can and do. I live in Roseland NJ. Thanks

ANSWER: There's more than one problem you are dealing with, my friend.  You have two problems.

Problem #1: Shade.  Grass needs Sun -- unless you selet a Shade-tolerant variety.

Problem #2: Tree roots.  This is a BIG problem.  There are Shade-tolerant varieties of Grass.  But there are no Grass varieties I know of with roots that will out-compete with Trees for nutrients in the Soil.  Please describe your neighbors' situation a little better; I'd like to understand what is going on here.

Do you have more Trees?

Did you water your Lawn last year?

Any other issues?

I'd like to know.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My lawn has more shade then the others. I can grow grass in the spring with new seeds, but by the heat of the summer after enough watering, the seeds die out. I use good seeds,i have tried all types, shade and sun or shade seed with the same results. I fertilize a couple times a year. Its not the entire lawn, but it is in the same spots every year.

Answer
It does unfortunately sound like you are up a creek without a paddle here, my friend.  The Tree Roots alone are enough to consume all nutrients needed by Turfgrass anywhere in the vicinity.  The Shade situation could be coped with -- best Shade Seed on the market right now continues to be the Supina Bluegrass variety introduced just a few years ago -- but without aggressive, uninterrupted feeding and watering to override the Tree roots effect, even that will not work for you.

Time for Plan B.  Groundcovers.  Areas you need to walk through can be defined with Flagstones or Tree Bark.  You can have a very nice landscape, in fact, with Azaleas, Hostas, pachysandra and Ferns around your property.  Don't forget to invite the Birds -- Birdbaths and Birdfeeders will be appreciated in mid-Summer when it's time to swoop down from one of your Trees and take a dip.

Fertilizing in this situation is difficult because of the buildup of Salts after repeated applications.  It's not a long term solution, I'm sorry to say.

Nevertheless, it is also very likely that your plot could emerge as the one everyone wants to have, if you landscape carefully.  Thanks for writing -- any more followups welcome as needed.