In this video, a homeowner with a shady backyard is tired of looking at dirt and moss. This Old House landscaper Lee Gilliam shows him what to do to bring his backyard to life.

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Shady backyards can be frustrating to deal with. The only thing that seems to grow is moss. When a homeowner called the Ask This Old House team for help, landscaper Lee Gilliam answered. With the help of a homeowner, they continue the yard’s garden aesthetic into the backyard with shade-tolerant plants, amend the soil with compost, and lay a thick carpet of shade-friendly sod.

Where to find it?
If your yard is shady, maximize the sunlight exposure by trimming back larger trees. To trim back smaller tree branches, use long reach pruners [https://homedepot.sjv.io/g1E6nv]. Use a pole cutter [https://homedepot.sjv.io/WqkdkO] for thicker branches.

To prep the soil before the install cover the yard with an organic compost [https://homedepot.sjv.io/0ZNjNY] and use a metal straight rake [https://homedepot.sjv.io/zNBQrr] to spread the compost out evenly. Work the compost into the soil with a rototiller [https://homedepot.sjv.io/dazVz3].

Once the soil is prepped use a wheelbarrow [https://homedepot.sjv.io/OrxKdA] to transport the sod to the install area. Lee selected a micro clover sod [https://homedepot.sjv.io/eKWE06] because it is shade tolerant and low maintenance. Install the sod in a staggered brick-like pattern using sod cutters [https://homedepot.sjv.io/75NONV] to cut the rolls to length. Use hand pruners [https://homedepot.sjv.io/q4jxjq] to cut around sprinkler heads.

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Materials:
Marking paint [https://homedepot.sjv.io/5gNZNo]
Compost [https://homedepot.sjv.io/0ZNjNY]
Shade tolerant plants [https://homedepot.sjv.io/eKWEW6]
Shade tolerant soil [https://homedepot.sjv.io/xkG5Gx]
Microclover sod [https://homedepot.sjv.io/eKWE06]
Leaf mulch [https://homedepot.sjv.io/rQPDPj]

Tools:
You may choose to rent a rototiller [https://homedepot.sjv.io/dazVz3].
Long reach pruner [https://homedepot.sjv.io/g1E6nv]
Pole cutter [https://homedepot.sjv.io/WqkdkO]
Shovel [https://homedepot.sjv.io/rQPDPd]
Rake [https://homedepot.sjv.io/zNBQrr]
Wheelbarrow [https://homedepot.sjv.io/OrxKdA]
Sod seam cutter [https://homedepot.sjv.io/75NONV]
Hand pruner [https://homedepot.sjv.io/q4jxjq]

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From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Lay Shade Sod | Ask This Old House
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