Where Grass Works — and Where It Doesn’t

Where Grass Works — and
Where It Doesn’t

Find out what to change first — and what to leave alone.

Where Grass Works — and Where It Doesn’t

Not every area of your yard needs a total redo. Some spots are perfect for grass, others thrive better with native plants. This page helps you identify trouble areas and offers a few good plant choices for each situation.

Where Grass Struggles… and What Works Better

Want to plant these yourself? Great! If you’d like guidance, we can help you plan for your exact yard conditions.

Shade/Under Trees

Wet/Poor Drainage

Compacted/High Heat

Sloped

Common Rush (Juncus effusus) - Full Sun/Part Sun
Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum ) - Part shade/Shade
Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) - Full sun - Part Shade -> Check dwarf varieties like 'Little Joe' or 'Baby Joe'

Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia) - Can spread quickly
Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides ) - Well-drained
Woodland Phlox (Phlox divaricata) - Susceptible to deer damage

Creeping Phlox (Phlox subulata) - Full Sun
River Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium) - Can spread aggressively
Hairy Alumroot (Heuchera villosa) - Part Shade

Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) - Full Sun
Black Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) - Fibrous roots laterally break up clay soil
Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) - Deep taproot to bust through deep compaction