I just bought a home with mature mature Post Oak trees covering about 75-80 percent of the yard. I am in the research and planning stages of installing a lawn. The previous owner did not have much luck with the lawn; I say this because there WAS no lawn when I viewed the property for the first time. To my understanding, Post Oak trees are "very" sensitive to root disturbance,changes in the soil grade and overwatering. I care a great deal about trees, which is one of the I bought this place. Do I even have a prayer of installing a lawn without causing harm to my precious trees??

Del Mar or Palmetto Saint Augustinegrass is what I had hoped to use.

My profound thanks in advance, Rod

Rod,

May I ask why you want a lawn? If it's green rather than brown ground you're after, there are great effects that can be achieved with groundcovers which you can plant far enough from the trees to prevent too much root disturbance and encourage to spread toward the trunks. Meandering paths will lend a woodsy feel and actually make the property seem larger. Whatever you decide, good luck.

My first thought is to agree with Gwenne about installing lawn. Add to it the cost of maintaining turf grass in a shade environment, and the pollution and noise for lawn mowers.

If you still feel that you want to have a nice lawn, talk to a good local arborist who has some experience with both. You didn’t say where you are located, and that will make a difference. Trees and grass prefer very different conditions, and making them work together can be done is most cases. But it could be expensive and the results maybe less than you hope for.

You can find ISA Certified Arborists at
ISA Certified Arborists

Good luck

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Russ Carlson, RCA

Thank you Gwenne and Russ for your feedback...I'll take all things into account.

Hi Rod, Perhaps the last owner of your house had difficulty with a lawn as there was a lack of sunlight getting through to the ground because of the oak, In which case you may want to consult someone to give your oak a crown thinning, otherwise i would agree with gwenne and get yourself some nice shade loving ground cover plants.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do.

Im an arborist in a botanic garden and the horticulture lads are saying that the boss is going to get some grass seed which is shade tolerant and doesnt need excessive watering, i dont know too many details at the moment but when i hear more i will pop back.
I actually prefer the way the gardens look now! as has been said by the peeps before me, it all adds to the character of a garden