If an area on your lawn gets less than five hours of direct sunlight a day then shade tolerant grass is needed. Regular grass requires at least 4 hour of direct sunlight a day. Insufficient direct sunlight will result in thin grass, more disease and less resistance to pests.
Growing in Shade
There are several ways to grow grass in shade. There is specially made shade tolerant grass that has been developed. This shade grass comes in either seed or sod form. To grow grass in shade without having to resod your lawn with shade loving grass simply purchase shade loving grass seed and overseed the existing lawn.
Alternate Shade Options
Another way to cover a shady area with growth is not use shade grass at all. Instead try groundcovers that are shade tolerant. Choose plants based on your preferences. There are groundcovers that are only green, or some that are fairly colorful. There are some groundcovers that will grow rapidly and others more slowly.
Another option to shade tolerant grass is to plant a garden of shade loving perennials. Check at you local nursery to be sure you choose the correct plants for your area and soil type.
Mulch may be another way to cover shaded areas instead of using shade-loving grass. There are both organic and inorganic low maintenance mulches. Gravel, bark chips, and stones are some of the longer lasting mulches that can be purchased at local nurseries.
To reduce maintenance to almost zero in these shaded areas cover them with patio or crushed stone. Add a garden seat and this area becomes a cool, shady retreat.
Purchasing & Planting
If you are determined to grow grass in this shaded area then be sure to check with your local nursery to determine which shade tolerant grass works best. Remember to purchase several different varieties of shade grass so you will have a better chance of growing and maintaining a green shade grass lawn.
If you are planning on adding shade grass sod then remove the old sod by cutting at the roots with a sharp shovel. Loosen the soil for 6-8 inches and mix in manure and granular starter fertilizer. Rake the area smooth and remove any rocks or roots. Walk over the area several times to compact the soil. Water the area well. Use a sharp knife to cut the new shade tolerant grass sod to fit the shaded area. Seal the shade grass sod seams with topsoil.