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Grow with KARE: Tips for shady spots

Shade doesn't have to be a place where nothing will grow!

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — One of our most frequently asked questions for Grow with KARE is about growing grass in a shady area. 

Guess what… it's not going to grow. Grass needs sun! Stop wasting time and money trying to plant grass in a full-shade area.

Either you can mulch the area or plant a great ground cover plant. Here are some of our favorite ground covers for shade. 

  • Sweet Woodruff: If you have a big area to fill, sweet woodruff will spread to fill it with small white flowers and a big fragrance.
  • Wild Ginger: Once established, wild ginger will help keep invasive plants at bay.
  • Wild geranium: Purple flowers help above the foliage and will have you loving your shade. 
  • Ajuga: There are a few ajuga varieties all that tolerate shade and stay very low. 
  • Lamium: Pick your color, white or pink flowers with variegated leaves.
  • Barrenwort: This one may be a bit harder to find at your average garden center but its delicate flowers make it worth the extra effort. 
  • Bergenia: Bright-colored flowers are held above thick and glossy leaves. 
  • Bunchberry: This native ground cover couldn't be cuter with small white flowers and red berries.

Shade doesn't have to be a place where nothing will grow!

Watch more of Grow with KARE:

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