Where do you live?

What kind of grass do you have?

How often do you water and for how long?

Wisconsin, the grass type I don't know. It was a typical deep green sod from a local garden store. I don't usually water in this area until late June as we get pretty good preciptation until July and August. Then I water the tree weekly (over this grass). The soil stays fairly moist, the tree has produced plenty of fruit for about 9 years.

I'm going out on a limb to guess that the grass is Kentucky bluegrass. Does it go dormant in the winter? or remain completely green?

I would nurse it along this summer and in August, over seed the weak areas (shady areas) with some turf type tall fescue. Someone else will chime in on varieties. KBG needs full sun to thrive. TTTF does not. It can do very well with some shade.

Thank you-it could be KBG but it was marked "grows well in shade". Don't really think it goes dormant because it stays very green in most areas-until it's white/covered with snow. The parts that are in the sun don't seem any more "rooted" than the parts in the shade. It seems more where the fruit drops if I can't get to it all right away. I will seed in the fall-but I'm afraid the edges will continue to pull up thru a summer or mowing. Thanks!

Have you considered mulch around the tree? There is a fruit tree forum here somewhere. They might have some thoughts, too.