Question
Our fescue lawn (that we seed and overseed each fall) is, as usual, getting very thin and becoming quite bare. This happens each summer as the days heat up and we have heavy afternoon thunderstorms here in Charlotte, N.C.  Our lot slopes and the areas of greatest thinness and bareness coincide with the slope....is there a type of grass we could plant that would stand a better chance of survival...last year by August we had NO grass in our backyard.  We have a lot of trees in natural areas and are not in the position to cut them down as we love them and so do our birds.

I have heard of zoysia but am not certain its requirements...our yard is very shady...thanks for the help!

Answer
i live in southern NJ. zoysia will grow here , but not in the shade. in warmer climates it will do better where it gets shade. red fescue is often added to grass seed mixtures because it will tolerate shade. tall fescue is what they use along the interstate hwy up here. it will take dry conditions and still come back. i'm not sure how much shade it will take. you need to visit some local garden centers/nursery to see what they recommend in your area. if you buy your products from them they should be happy to help you solve your problem.