Dear C.J.

Q: I have two long banks in my yard that have a lot of clay. I have added topsoil and tilled it in and then seeded. We had grass for a season but now the grass has died and the soil has washed away. Also, in my front yard, it is very sandy and grass won't grow. What do I need to do to cover the banks and to get grass to grow in the front yard. Front yard has a lot of shade from trees and has a lot of moss. cb

A: Hi CB,

It sounds suspiciously as though you’ve got an issue with excessive shade. This is the pattern we tend to often see. The grass fills in nicely, then it thins out as the season progresses, then it’s gone, then the lack of lawn allows the soil to wash away, then the homeowner kicks their mower in frustration, then the doctor in the emergency room acts confused when trying to figure out how grass clippings AND grease got into the new gash in the big toe, etc.

“Shade Seed” is good, but it has its limitations. Remember, it is “shade” seed, not “darkness” seed. Where’s the cutoff? Well, if you plant shade seed and take good care of it, then end up with a situation suspiciously like the one described above, you’ve got too much shade.

There are 2 options. First, have some tree work done to get more light in. NEXT, put in more topsoil to replace the washout. Seed, water, keep fingers crossed until they’re sore.

Second, you can give up on the idea of grass and go with a more shade tolerant ground cover like pachysandra. You can check with your local garden centers for more details on what options you have in your area.

Thanks for writing in!