Question: We have shade. What type of grass will grow best there?

Answer: We have two shade-tolerant turfgrasses for Texas landscapes. St. Augustine and fescue each must have 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily during the summer if they’re to hold their own. Fescue produces no runners, so it won’t spread anyway, but you’ll need more like 6 or 7 hours of sunlight if you expect St. Augustine to spread vigorously. If you have less sunlight than those prescribed limits, perhaps you can remove unwanted limbs. If not, you’ll have to switch to a shade-tolerant groundcover that is tolerant of less light. Mondograss (not a true grass) is one of the best options, but liriope, English ivy, trailing vinca and even purple wintercreeper euonymus and Asian jasmine are candidates.