Growing Grass is shaded area.

I have about a 1/3 acre back yard that is fenced and has many trees that shades the yard in the summer. My problem is that my yard is also a drainage area for water when it rains. There is a small stream that runs trough my yard when I rains heavy. Other than having a back yard that is muddy, there is not alot of grass either. My concern is the rain will keep taking away my soil. Many tree roots are already showing. I want to grow grass to help with the mud/erosion, but I am not sure how successfull it will be with all the shade. My other idea was to install some kind of drain, that will collect the water as it enters my yard, and have it drain trough a pipe to a safe area. The pipe would be burried. Does this sound crazy?

Hello Boatcrazy:

You asked if your two ideas where crazy?
Answer is NO! Doing nothing is Crazy!
Unless you want to row your boat in the backyard someday when it rains hard...haha

Your idea to channel the water away from the yard is an excellant idea. You may even elect to channel it all or some part of it through the yard and allow some water to be used for irrigation.

As for growing grass, check in the local nurseries for low sunlight grass. Commonly refered to as Shade Grass.

You may also elect to contact a landscaper for other ideas specific to your problem.

Channeling that runoff water into an outdoor fish pond sound good? At the least it would do two things.

Add a conversation piece to the yard.
Conserve and use the runoff water.

Good Luck
TomBartco

Using pipe to channel water is very common. Many farmers do this for wet fields. It won't stop the flooding, but will help the yard to dry out quicker.

As for grass - determine what kind of grass you now have. Get the same type. Don't worry about 'shade grass'. That is more marketing than fact.

You will have problems restablishing grass close to the trees. Give seed a shot ot try sod. You may need to plant ground cover close to the trees.

Farmers "tile" wet fields. Tile looks like 6 or 8" black plastic, ribbed tubing, and has holes in it. Very easy to install and cheap. Dig trench below frostline, slope it, install tube so holes are topside. --- Seeds: annual grass seed is cheap and great for shade and comes up fast, great germination. Perrenial ryes and fescues are shade lovers, last forever, but more costly, and they tend to look like field grass rather than turf.