When we get regular rain, the back yard grows very fast in the shady areas. The front doesn’t do much, no matter what!
Different soils? How odd.
When I was growing up, we had lawn in front of the house, but the back was farm buildings, until my dad divided it into lots and sold them. Then, of course, we had neighbors were the horse corral and the pig pen used to be...not much difference, I guess! LOL!