Question
I am looking to put a new lawn (new home) and it is surrounded by trees (25' area around the house is clear) so quite shaded except for noon and early afternoon sun in some areas.
What do you recommend for grass?  I have been reading that clover is a possibility but I always considered it to be a weed.
Please advise.

Thanks.
Bill

Answer
The best grass types for partial shade is st. augustine sod in southern hemospheres (very hot summers, mild winters) such as the "south".

For nothern areas (4 seasons, cold snowy winters, warm summers) plant a mixture of primarily fine leaved fescue (such as hard, chewing creeping red) and shade tolorant kentucky bluegrass. normally a pre-blended package with a mixture of fine fescues (hard fescue, creeping red fescue or chewing fescues) and some kentucky bluegrass is recommended.

I would not plant clover as shade tolorant grass or ground cover. If grass can not grow in the area by trial and error, then consider shade tolorant ground covers such as ivy, vinca, pathysandra. These ground covers you can not walk on, however.