Do shade-tolerant St. Augustine grasses really grow well in shade?
No grass will grow well in heavy shade. However, some St. Augustine varieties such as Delmar and Seville are slightly more shade tolerant than others. Delmar is a dwarf cultivar that is often sold as sod or plugs. It has good shade tolerance and also does well in full sun. It has short internodes, a dark green color and good cold tolerance. It should be mowed at 11/2 to 21/2 inches. Delmar is susceptible to chinch bugs, sod webworms and brown patch disease. Like the other dwarfs, it has a tendency to become thatchy. Seville is a dwarf, fine-leaved variety with a dark green color and a low growth habit. It is susceptible to chinch bug and webworm damage. Like the other dwarf cultivars, Seville tends to be thatch-prone. It performs well in both shade and full sun, but is cold-sensitive. Seville should be mowed at 2 to 21/2 inches. It is not as common as Delmar but is a good choice for shady sites. Grass grown in shade will not have the density and recuperative ability of grass grown in f
