Under the old cottonwoods of Agua Fria the sunlight falls in patches that move all afternoon, and grass there lives a different life than grass out in the open. Ricky Digs Trees - Albuquerque mows those dappled yards at a height that suits the shade, trims close around trunks without scarring bark, and clears the litter a big canopy drops in every month of the year. Late winter is the quiet turning point, when matted turf gets raked open and the leaf mat comes off so April has somewhere to go. Then the season starts and regular visits keep the shape honest. A yard under big trees can be handsome; it only asks for attention.