It can be very difficult to maintain a turf under shade conditions. However, a few management practices can improve the overall turf condition in these areas. Shade in many lawns is provided by mature trees; therefore, the pruning of limbs below 15 feet from the ground and selective thinning of limbs in the crown of the tree will allow more light to reach the turf and improve turf quality. The choice of the correct turf species can also enhance the odds of a high quality shaded turf. Red fescue is the cool-season specieces with the best shade tolerance and tall fescue will also do well in the shade. Most lawns in our area consist of predominately Kentucky bluegrass. This variety has only mild shade tolerance and will soon thin out if subjected to continous periods of dense shade.