Grass planting season

The Best Time to Plant Grass

When your sights are set on a thick, lush lawn, planting grass seed represents an investment of time, money, labor and hope. From seeding new lawns to repairing rough spots and renewing existing turf, proper timing separates sweet success from something less. Your best time for planting grass seed depends on the type of lawn grass you grow and where you live. Understanding your options and getting timing right helps you seize every opportunity for seeding success.

WHY TIMING MATTERS

Grass grows fastest and strongest when your planting season aligns with the seeds' natural periods of active growth. Just as with other kinds of plants in your landscape, lawn grasses vary in their growth cycles and regional climate preferences.

Cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass and tall fescue, including Kentucky 31 tall fescue, grow most vigorously during the cool temperatures of late summer and early fall. These grasses flourish across cooler northern climates and into the challenging "transition zone" where cool and warm regions overlap.

Warm-season grasses, such as Bermudagrass, Bahiagrass, Zoysia grass and Centipede grass peak in growth during the warmer temperatures of late spring and early summer. These grasses thrive in southern and western regions and up into the transition zone's southern reaches.

Whether you grow cool- or warm-season grasses, timing your seeding to take advantage of your grass type's natural periods of peak growth helps seed germinate and establish quickly. Your seed gets off to the best possible start and gets on track for both short- and long-term success.

WHY FALL IS BEST FOR COOL-SEASON GRASSES

Several distinct advantages make fall the best time to plant cool-season grass seed. In early autumn, the soil is still warm from months of summer sun. This combination of warm soil, moderate daytime temperatures and cool evenings encourages fast germination and establishment of newly sown cool-season grass seed.

Cool-season grass seed germinates best when soil temperatures reach 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This roughly corresponds to daytime air temperatures in the 60°F to 75°F range. An inexpensive soil thermometer, available at garden stores and online retailers, can help eliminate the guesswork.

The farther north you live, the earlier cool fall temperatures and ideal planting times come. For example, Minnesotans in the Upper Midwest seed cool-season lawns from mid-August to mid-September.¹ For transition-zone lawn owners in central and northern Arkansas, September and October are the best time for seeding cool-season lawns.²

Fall seeding complements the natural growth cycles of cool-season grasses.

As a general rule, plant cool-season grass seed at least 45 days before the estimated date of your first fall frost, before soil and air temperatures drop to less favorable levels. Your grasses will enjoy a full fall season, plus a second cool growing season come spring. Your local county extension agent can help with advice on average frost dates and optimal timing for seeding lawns in your area.

Newly planted seed needs consistent soil moisture, and fall planting offers benefits on that front, too. Fall typically brings more precipitation, which lessens the chance that cool-season seeds may dry out, and reduces the need for extra watering on your part. Using premium drought-tolerant, water-conserving grass seed products, such as Pennington Smart Seed and Pennington One Step Complete, lowers the risk of problems even more.

The second best time to seed cool-season lawn grasses is in the spring, once soil and air temperatures warm back up to their optimal range. However, late-melting snows and early spring rains can keep soil cold and overly wet, giving early weeds an advantage. Grasses also have less time to settle in before higher temperatures inhibit germination and cool-season grass growth begins to slow.

WHY SPRING IS BEST FOR WARM-SEASON GRASSES

Warm-season grasses germinate best when soil temperatures are consistently in the 65°F to 70°F range. This generally corresponds to daytime air temperatures near 80°F or more. Planting in late spring and early summer gives warm-season grasses the advantage of warm soil and early seasonal rains, which help keep soil moisture available during germination and establishment.

Moderate spring weather helps spring-planted grass seed flourish.

As with cool-season grasses, best warm-season planting times vary by location. In California, mid-April to mid-May is prime time for seeding warm-season lawns.³ In central and southern Arkansas, lawn owners plan their warm-season grass seeding for late May through June.² It's tempting to get out and seed at the first hint of spring, but patience pays off. Wait until all danger of frost has passed and soil warms. Cold, wet soil is a recipe for poor germination, rotting seed and disease. Your county extension agent can help with expected frost dates and timely advice when unexpected weather conditions factor in.

As a general rule, warm-season grasses planted at least 90 days before the first fall frost have time to establish well before winter. These summer-loving grasses go dormant once temperatures drop near 55°F, so late-planted seedlings can't prepare for what's ahead. With proper timing, warm-season grass seed gets a natural boost from summer's warmth and a full season of active growth and development before cooling temperatures bring on winter dormancy.

One exception to the spring seeding rule for warm-season lawns is when overseeding with a cool-season grass, such as perennial ryegrass, for temporary winter color. Overseeding for green winter grass is always done in fall, once temperatures drop and warm-season lawns begin to go dormant and lose color.

WHAT TO EXPECT FROM NEWLY PLANTED GRASS SEED

Proper timing allows all types of grass seedlings to root well and get established before natural stresses hit. What that looks like in your lawn can vary depending on your grass type, your growing region and the conditions in any given year.

Grass types and varieties vary in their natural germination speeds. For example, cool-season Kentucky bluegrass germination can take two to three times as long as tall fescue varieties. Similarly, warm-season Zoysia grass may take two to three times longer than Bermudagrass. In addition, many seed products include a mix of seed types that germinate at different speeds.

Whether you're repairing bare spots, overseeding an existing lawn or starting from scratch, you can generally expect grass seedlings to emerge within seven to 21 days when grown under proper conditions. It may take another three to four weeks of growth before grass is long enough to mow. For fall-planted seed, this can mean waiting until spring for your first mowing. Some grasses, such as Zoysia grass, may need several months of growth to fully establish.

Much of the initial growth of new grass seedlings happens underground, where you can't see it. New roots get grass firmly established, prepared for the seasons ahead and positioned for strong, rapid growth when their peak season arrives. With proper timing, new grass seedlings compete well for light, water and nutrients and fight off lawn diseases and pests, including lawn weeds.

Time your planting so that new seedlings become established before stressful seasons.

HOW TO MAXIMIZE THE TIMING ADVANTAGE

Even when you plant your grass seed at the best possible time, your lawn still needs help to thrive. Whether this is your first lawn or you're the neighborhood expert, take some advice from turf professionals and get to know your grasses and your soil before you start seeding. Follow through on best practices for preparing and planting and don't neglect traditional tasks, such as fall lawn care, that help keep your grass and soil healthy, well-nourished and ready to support new growth.

Do your research to understand what's in a bag of grass seed and the company behind the seed. Pennington is committed to producing the finest grass seed products possible and providing you with educational resources to help your seed project succeed. By timing your lawn tasks properly, you can maximize your advantage and seed your way to the lawn of your dreams.

Pennington, Smart Seed and One Step Complete are trademarks of Pennington Seed, Inc.

Sources:

1. Mugaas, R. and Pedersen, B., "Seeding and Sodding Home Lawns," University of Minnesota Extension.

2. Patton, A. and Boyd, J., "Seeding a Lawn in Arkansas," University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.

3. UC Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, "Planting Times and Rates for Grasses That Can Be Established From Seed," University of California.

When is the Best Time to Plant Grass Seed?

With articles on the best time to lay sod and the best time to plant grass plugs, Sod University also tackles the discussion of the best time to plant grass seed. When it comes to this landscape project, a couple of different factors come into play. Is it warm season or cool season grass seed? Where are you geographically located? What is the purpose of the seeding project? Consult your local land-grant university for specific information on when to plant grass seed in the exact area you are located.

Generally speaking, you can plant grass seed any time of the year, but fall is the best time to seed a lawn with a cool season turfgrass variety. Spring is the best time to plant warm season turfgrass seed. Cool season varieties of grass seed include tall fescue seed, ryegrass seed or even Kentucky bluegrass seed. Warm season varieties can include grasses like bermuda grass, zoysia or St. Augustine. It should be noted, though, that there’s no such thing as St. Augustine seed. Read below to find out how you can successfully plant grass seed throughout different times of the year.

How to Plant Grass Seed in the Fall

Cool Season Grass Seed

Overall, fall is the best time to seed or overseed with a cool season variety no matter where you are located in the country. If you are above the transition zone, the best time slots are around the weeks between August 15th–October 1st. As you get farther south towards the transition zone, your window of opportunity expands a little more and you can seed during the weeks of Labor Day through the end of October instead.

If you follow these dates, your grass seed will germinate properly. You also won’t have as much weed pressure as you would during the spring or summer because of the killing freeze that will arrive a few months later.

This timeframe applies to seeding your entire lawn with grass seed or overseeding a warm season grass with a cool season grass. During the fall, homeowners will sometimes overseed their warm season bermuda grass with a cool season grass like ryegrass, for example, to keep it green during the winter once their bermuda grass goes dormant. Learn more about this in How to Keep Your Lawn Green During the Winter.

Warm Season Grass Seed

Fall is definitely not the best time to plant warm season grass seed because it may not have a lot of time to germinate before the onset of winter temperatures. Even if it does have time to germinate, it still may be a little too weak going into the winter and might be susceptible for winterkill and winter damage.

How to Plant Grass Seed in the Winter

It is not recommended that you plant grass seed during the winter months for either warm or cool season grass seed. The chances of it sticking around and not washing away during the winter are pretty low. The spring and fall seasons, in comparison, will guarantee the most success with seeding projects.

How to Plant Grass Seed in the Spring

Cool Season Grass Seed

Spring is the second best time to plant grass seed for cool season varieties. The best time to plant cool season grass seed during this season is somewhere between the weeks of April 1st–May 15th. This will give you a few weeks to get your seed to pop up from the surface of the soil. March is still pretty cold in the cooler areas up North.

You can expect more weed pressure in the spring, though, because weeds like crabgrass will be germinating around this same time. You also won’t want to overseed a warm season turfgrass with a cool season turfgrass in the spring.

Warm Season Grass Seed

Spring is the best time to plant warm season grass seed. The timeframe that guarantees the most success with a warm season turfgrass variety is around the month of May if you are located in northern areas of Georgia or North Carolina. As you get farther south, the window of opportunity expands.

Be sure to really irrigate your grass seed at this time as the proper amounts of irrigation will help it germinate before the onset of summer heat. The grass will fill in rapidly through the heat of the summer in July, August and early September.

A popular warm season variety homeowners love is centipede grass, which should stay within the May timeframe if you plan on seeding it. Centipede seed planted in May will really pop before it gets too hot, so this gives you time to have the proper irrigation and help it grow in beforehand.

How to Plant Grass Seed in the Summer

Cool Season Grass Seed

It is not recommended that you plant cool season grass seed at this time because the grass will be dormant. It will not be worth your time and effort unless you are located really far up North. Sod University suggests blocking out the dates of June–early August before doing this.

Warm Season Grass Seed

The summer is not ideal for warm season grass seed either because of the extreme heat. You would have to spend a lot of time and money irrigating it. It is possible to do this in the summer, but you will need to spend a lot more time and money on proper amounts of irrigation.

Recommended Products for Grass Seed Projects

Take a look at some of our products for your seeding project coming up. The Lawnifi® New Lawn Starter Box, which contains three bottles of Lawnifi product, is the best fertilizer for new seed. It contains everything newly seeded lawns need to establish thick, healthy grass including two bottles of Grow for improved soil health and one bottle of Maintain to feed the lawn. This fertilizer box will give your grass the nutrients it needs during establishment.

In summary, you can plant grass seed anytime during the year. However, fall is the best time to plant grass seed or overseed with a cool season grass seed while spring is the best time to plant warm season grass seed. The winter is not recommended for either cool or warm season grasses due to the harsh, cooler temperatures. This is partially due to the risk of seed being washed away or newly germinating seed heads experiencing winterkill. You can seed warm season grass in the summer, but you must be fully prepared to spend a lot of time and money irrigating it. It is not recommended you conduct seeding projects with cool season turfgrass in the summer because the grass will likely be dormant.

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How to plant lawn grass - do-it-yourself lawn preparation

So! You have decided to get a lawn in your area. A reasonable question arises - when and how to plant lawn grass?
Let's start in order.

Content:

How to choose lawn grass
When to sow lawn
Preparing the soil for lawn grass
How to plant lawn grass yourself
How to care for lawn grass
Seasonal lawn care

How to choose lawn grass

The decisive issue for the choice of lawn grass mixture is its intended purpose. Usually the name of the lawn grass that you see on the packaging speaks for itself. For example:

Sports turf is a turf for high traffic areas. It can be sports and playgrounds, playgrounds for active games of dogs. Such a lawn is resistant to trampling, but grows quickly, which requires frequent mowing.

Parterre lawn - a lawn with a decorative function, serves as a backdrop for solitary plants and flower beds. It has a bright color and a beautiful sheen. Requires regular watering and space open to sunlight.

Dwarf Lawn is a lawn that contains low growing, slow growing grass species, making it easy to care for and minimizing the need for mowing. It is more often used as decorative, because it is subject to trampling.

Slope Turf - In this lawn, the grasses are selected to form a strong root layer (turf) that is able to hold the soil on the slope and prevent erosion.

When to sow lawn grass

In central Russia, lawn grass seeds can be planted immediately after the snow melts (late April - early May) and until the very end of the confidently warm season (usually October). In a later period, it is not recommended to sow the lawn, since the plants will not have time to fully get stronger before wintering, and as a result, in the spring it will be necessary to oversow, or even re-sow the lawn.

The most favorable period for sowing lawn grass is the end of April - May and September - the beginning of October.

If fresh fertile soil is brought in, it is worth waiting 1-2 weeks before sowing. After spilling the soil, wait 3-4 hours, then sow the lawn.

If sowing lawn grass is carried out in the summer, it is worth waiting for rainy cloudy days.

Do not overdo it with watering. Before germination - watering every day, then no more than 1 time per week.

The first lawn mowing is done when the grass is about 15 cm high.

Before planting the lawn, a drainage system must be established, and, if provided, an electrical supply system and an underground irrigation system.
In order for the lawn to look perfect, it is necessary to level the soil. The slope can be 1-3% to facilitate surface water runoff. A large lawn area can be given a greater slope, but not more than 30%.

Soil preparation for lawn grass

Weed removal

Removing weeds will ensure friendly seedlings, improve the appearance of the lawn and make it easier to further care for it.

Weed control methods:

Freezing is the death of underground parts of weeds in winter. To do this, in the fall it is necessary to carry out deep digging of the soil.

Suffocation - a long-term method based on repeated cutting of weeds at a shallow depth (harrowing for 2-3 years), the effect is achieved by exhausting the rhizome.

Provocation - a couple of weeks before sowing, it is necessary to prepare the soil, and when a lot of weed sprouts appear, they are loosened on the surface, thereby destroying them.

Mulching - covering the soil, depriving weeds of light. For this purpose, ripened compost is well suited, and crushed bark under trees and shrubs.

New primer is the most effective, but laborious and more expensive method. Removing the old soil and laying out the new soil with a drainage system - the soil is removed to a depth of 30 cm and laid out in layers: crushed stone, sand and black earth, and a rolled lawn is laid on top or seeds of lawn grass mixture are sown.

Herbicides - Weeds must be treated when they are actively growing, but must not be mechanically damaged. Within 5-10 days, the herbicide spreads over the entire area of the plant and after 20-30 days the plant dies entirely. Approximately 15 days after the action of the preparation, the land can be cultivated. Herbicides are best applied in the fall if lawn grass is planned to be planted in the spring.

Plots on which weeds have already been removed, it would be good to protect from those that have not yet been processed.

The surface of the soil under the lawn must be leveled - there should be no mounds or holes. As a result, water will accumulate in the pits, which will lead to wetting of the grass, and the bumps will make it difficult for the lawn mower to work.

Soil fertility

The thickness of the fertile layer for the proper development of lawn grass should be at least 10 - 15 cm.
The soil should be improved, depending on its characteristics.

The soil mixture and all its components should be mixed well and embedded in detail into the soil, loosened to a depth of about 40 cm, so that the lower layers do not subsequently move upward. When carrying out these works, it is necessary to remove from the ground all parts of plants that have previously been treated with chemicals, and their roots must also be carefully removed.

In order to make it convenient to care for the edges of the lawn, it is better to fix them. Borders are usually decorated with materials such as gravel, crushed stone or pebbles. You can also use a stone border or tile - this will also look advantageous in a decorative way, and will give you access to mow the edges of the lawn, which will make mowing much easier.

How to sow lawn grass with your own hands

Level the soil with a rake. There should be no bumps or depressions.
Seeding rate for lawn grass is usually indicated by the manufacturer on the packaging. Sowing is done by hand or with a special manual seeder, the site should be passed several times: in different directions (left to right, right to left and diagonally). This is done to evenly distribute the seeds over the entire area.
For convenience, seeds can be mixed with sand before sowing, then the seeds will not stick together, and sowing will be convenient and even.
Then roll the seeds with a special roller or close them with a rake.
Be sure to shed the soil well with a nozzle that sprays a fine jet of water.

How to care for lawn grass

During the period of growth of a young lawn, it needs to be provided with:

sufficient watering
removal of weeds that will attack a weak lawn
lawn mowing 5-10 cm

A lawn is considered mature and mature after 2-3 seasons after sowing.

Seasonal lawn care

When to sow the lawn, advice on when to plant the lawn

The list of herbs that can be planted for landscaping garden plots in the country and city parks is constantly growing. Plants have their own biological characteristics in terms of vegetation, frost resistance, sensitivity to climatic conditions, so disputes about when it is better to plant lawn grass do not make sense. The schedule of landscaping works in each case is compiled individually.

Simple Rules

The times when the term "lawn" was understood only as a unkempt piece of land in the local area have sunk into oblivion. Today, lawn areas can occupy more than one hectare, and their design is akin to real art. Thanks to the sowing of different types of grasses, zoning is carried out, a background is created for planting park crops - trees, shrubs and flowers.

In order for the green area to look perfect, it needs constant care, but the main stage that determines the quality of the grass cover is sowing. The choice of plants is determined by the functional purpose of the lawn, the climatic features of the area, one's own aesthetic preferences, and the general concept of landscape design. It will not be superfluous to recall that the appearance of the grass cover largely depends not only on how it is grown, but also on the quality of the seed, so it is recommended to buy seeds only from trusted suppliers.

Most landscapers prefer spring seeding. When to plant lawn grass in the country in the spring depends on the climatic features of the area. So, in the southern regions of Russia, due to early spring, work can begin as early as early March, and the optimal period for the middle zone is the end of April or the first decade of May. The main advantage of spring sowing is that by autumn the grass cover will be fully formed and gain strength, which guarantees a successful wintering. As soon as the average daily temperature crosses the positive values, there comes a favorable time when you can plant lawn grass.

Sowing in autumn is also planned depending on weather conditions. Some experts advise sowing the seed in September so that the grass has time to sprout before the first frost. However, some landscape designers are of the opinion that the best time to sow lawn grass in the fall is late October or early November. In this case, the grass sits in the already frozen soil. It is believed that stratification contributes to increased plant viability and contributes to good resistance to various diseases.

Many experts believe that the best time to sow lawn grass seeds is during the summer months, when the earth has warmed up enough and most of the weeds have already faded. However, plants planted in summer may not have enough time to grow and take root before the onset of cold weather, so the question of when to plant a lawn in summer has only one answer: the sooner the better. Another “minus” of summer planting is that in a short time it is unlikely that it will be possible to give the green carpet the desired appearance this year (for more details, see the article “How long does lawn grass sprout after sowing?”)

The decision when it is better to plant a lawn - in spring or autumn - remains with the owner of the site, but it will not be superfluous to consult with a specialist.

Site preparation

Regardless of the time chosen when to plant the lawn, the order of preparatory work does not change much and includes several stages:

clearing the ground of stones and weeds, uprooting stumps, leveling the area, removing elements that could disturb the structure of the lawn;
digging up the soil with the simultaneous application of mineral fertilizers and manure, if necessary, correcting the soil by adding sand, peat, chernozem;
fallow for 2-3 weeks;
immediately before sowing - tillage of the soil surface with a rake, then with a shaft for leveling and crushing;
sow according to recommended seed rates;
surface mixing of seeds with topsoil with a rake;
plentiful watering before emergence of shoots.

Subject to the correct soil preparation technology, after a while the lawn will please the eye, regardless of when to sow grass in the country or in the city (details in the article "How to plant a lawn correctly")

Finally

In printed publications and on the Internet, you can find a lot of information about when it is better to plant a lawn, how to properly plant a garden plot.