Question
I would like to know the best type of grass to use for Central Florida weather with two huge trees covering the entire area in shade.  And how to do this.  We have tried numerous types of seeds with out any luck.  Thank You

Answer
Central Florida -- is this Daytona Beach? Osceola? Orlando?  We New Yorkers are by nature geographically challenged.  Correct me if I'm wrong.  This 'central' concept is obviously a region but me, I just deal with N-S-E-W and USDA Zones.

We'll assume you live in Zone 9.  Somewhere.  But please correct me if I did not get this right.  It's important.

Plus it's always nice to learn something new at this end.

So you want to ask: What kind of grass can we grow in shade in Zone 9?

This is an ongoing challenge for all grass growers everywhere, unfortunately.  Complicated by the needs that different homeowners have for their lawns -- a place for the kids to run?  A curb-appealing frame for the house?

Most important criteria we have is that you need a warm season grass that will take a lot of shade under those trees.  I can tell you that of the warm season grasses, St. Augustine Grass generally takes more shade than other warm season grasses.  In DENSE shade, however, it will still be weak and spindly.  Some kinds of St Augustine do a little better in shade than others.  So we have to find one that is the  best for you.  None of these will thrive without at least 6 to 7 hours of full sun.  Up here in the North, we have to wait until our deciduous trees leaf out in the spring before we can really tell how much shade we have.  But down there, Rosanna, you have the good fortune to be able to walk right out today and take a good luck at the tree to see how many hours -- if any -- of sun you have under that tree all day long, dawn to dusk, morning to nite.

Let's look at the University of Florida Coop Extension website (http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/LH010) for the latest word on Florida shade grass, 'St Augustinegrass for Florida Lawns'.  They list some top shade performers: Dwarf varieties AMERISHADE; BITTERBLUE, CLASSIC, DELMAR and SEVILLE.

Worst for shade: FLORALAWN and FLORITAM (which Univ of Fla points out is  'the most widely produced and used St. Augustinegrass in Florida' -- my guess is you have tried this one).

This grass is almost always grown with sod, plugs or sprigs. It spreads and grows by using stolons -- stems above the ground -- at the leaf nodes.  So when it grows, St. Augustine creeps along the ground.

Now, any list you look at, Rosanna, of Grass to Grow in Florida is going to be packed with a lot of warnings about chinchbugs, diseases and grass health problems.  The most important variable for you -- the ONLY important variable for you -- is going to be your sun situation.  You want a grass that grows in partial shade.  I can help you with all the other problems.  In fact, I can tell you how to keep from getting them.  That step begins with your promise not to let anyone put down a 'pre-emergent weed control' or a 'grubkiller' or 'chinchbug killer' or 'fungicide' WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF THE LONG ISLAND GARDENER.  Because these are almost always worse than other things you can do.  They just are not very profitable.  And most people don't want to think about them.

But be realistic about your shade.  How much shade do you have?

Last grass to work with:  Zoysia is not a popular Florida grass, but there is one worth trying that I have read is new to the market, developed at University of Florida, called 'Ultimate'.  If you have shade part of the day, this, or a St Augustine grass, may be the answer you're looking for.

I can't stand out there with you, Rosanna, and see the shade you are talking about under those trees.  Frankly, trees are a wonderful thing to have -- like the poem says, Only God can make a tree.  So we should probably think of a Plan B here.

PLAN B - GROUNDCOVERS

You're lucky, Rosanna,  Because in Florida, in your part of the world, there are some beautiful things to grow under trees.

Since water is such an issue, you may as well select one that gets thirsty less than some of the other groundcovers.   Purple Heart (Setcreasea pallida 'Purple Heart' variety) and, if you can water them enough, Wandering Jew (Zebrina pendula) and Boston Fern (Nephrolepsis exaltata), grown as houseplants here in the North, thrive in shade.

Liriope (Liriope muscari/Liriope spicata) almost seems like a lawn grass.  It will take a reasonable amount of foot traffic, unless most of the other groundcovers here.  English Ivy (Hedera helix) will grow up the side of the trees you plant them under.  I think these represent the best choices on the short list of under-tree mass plantings.

Others qualify.  Take a look at Cryptanthus, Algerian Ivy (Hedera canariensis), Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) and Florida Arrowroot (Zamia pumila/Zamia floridana).

Dwarf Gardenia jasminoides and Carolina Jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens) are grown as greenhouse plants up here for their lovely flowers, so may need more light than you can provide.  But I list them because I happen to love them so much and if you can get them to bloom you will be luckier than I am because we need special greenhouses to do that.  You do not.

If you can water regularly on the very hottest day, Patridge Berry (Mitchella repens), Leatherleaf Fern (Rumonra adiantiformis), Selaginella (Selaginella involvens) will do well under your trees.

You have mentioned that you have tried 'numerous' seeds.  So I am just wondering what seeds those were, because most of these are grown as plugs and sod.

Anyway, your feedback would be appreciated -- and any questions, I'm here.