Even on a rather smaller scale, grass does absorb e carbon dioxide. It also makes the air cooler and prevents soil erosion. So, it’s no wonder many homeowners want a lush lawn on their properties.
If you’re wondering when to plant grass seed in spring, know that it’s best to do this task when there’s no frost and the soil is warm and moist.
Read below for more details.
Table of Contents
Best Time for Planting Grass Seed in Spring
Before we discuss when to seed lawn in spring, it’s important that you know the best grass type for this period.
In short, warm-season turfs thrive during spring, while cool-season ones suit fall the most (with spring being the second-best period). Therefore, go with the former for your post-winter gardening.
1. After the last frost
Since weather conditions vary across the United States, gardening times will also differ. For instance, Californians can start planting grass in spring during mid-April or mid-May. Meanwhile, people in Arizona can do this task from May to July.
To find the exact time you should grow the grass seeds, focus on your locality only by looking up the frost date where you live.
Because warm-season grass cannot tolerate freezing temperatures, it’s vital to wait until the weather’s not icy to start gardening.
For example, Charlottesville, Virginia has the last frost on April 10. Therefore, residents of this city can start spring grass seed around mid-April.
2. When the soil is warm and moist
A good time to plant grass seed is when the soil has sufficient warmth.
Because warm-season turf makes for the best spring lawn, the best temperature for your garden bed will be 65 to 70℉ with a daytime air of 80 degrees.
That said, if you want to grow cool-season grass in spring anyway, do so when the ground is 50 to 60℉ with ambient temperatures of 60 to 75 degrees.
At the same time, the soil should be moist but not drenched. In practice, this means watering is necessary after sowing seeds to keep them from drying out.
3. Ninety days before the first frost for warm-season grass
When you lay grass seed in spring, do so at least 90 days before the first frost for warm-season varieties. If you start planting too late, the grass won’t have enough time to develop before overwintering.
As an example, gardening in spring Illinois, in Collinsville, to be specific, should take place ninety days before October 21 — in other words, on July 23.
Still confused? Read on: When is it too late to plant grass seed?
Is March Too Early to Plant Grass Seed?
Generally, yes. The weather in March is often too cold to facilitate grass seed growth. If you look up the last frost dates for many regions, you’ll notice they’re often in April or even May.
For example, Boston, MA has the last frost on April 6. Meanwhile, Buffalo, NY has icy weather up until May 5.
What Month is the Best Month to Plant Grass Seed?
Depending on the grass type, the best months for planting will differ. Check out the recommendations below.
1. Cool-season varieties
- Mid-August to mid-September for Northeastern and Midwest United States.
- September to October for transition zones (from the eastern border of New Mexico to the center of the East Coast).
- Overseeding on existing lawn – September (optimal time) or March/April (second-best period).
2. Warm-season varieties
- May to July for transition zones, but other warm areas can plant this grass type for longer (from March to August).
- Overseeding time – in October.
Can You Plant Grass Seed in the Fall to Get It to Grow in the Spring?
Yes. If it’s too late this year to put down grass seed in spring, you can sow seeds in fall and enjoy a spring lawn next season. Do so before the first frost, when the weather is still cool enough to prevent germination.
Grass Varieties to Grow in Spring
Below are some grass varieties you can plant in spring, along with the hardiness zones they’re suitable for. You can use this information to select the best turf for your garden.
| Grass type | Hardiness zones |
| Bahiagrass | Zone 7 to 11 |
| Buffalograss | Zone 5 to 8 |
| Centipedegrass | Zone 7 to 10 |
| St. Augustinegrass | Zone 8 to 10 |
| Zoysiagrass | Zone 5 to 10 |
| Bluegrass | Zone 2 to 6 |
| Bentgrass | Zone 4 to 6 |
| Tall fescue | Zone 4 to 7 |
How to Plant Grass Seeds in Spring?
- To begin, buy a seed package containing over 90% of seed matter without any other crop materials.
- Then, clean the lawn of detritus.
- Also, till the soil to remove weeds.
- Afterwards, test the soil for nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. If your garden doesn’t have any of these substances in sufficient amounts, give it fertilizer.
- Once the ground has the right nutritional makeup and temperature, use a drop-seed spreader to distribute the grass seeds.
- Next, mulch the planting area with bark, woodchips, or compost.
- Finally, water the soil daily to keep it moist. After sprouts appear, you can reduce the irrigation frequency if your lawn is not too dry.
Conclusion
By now, it should be obvious when to plant grass seed in spring. As long as we keep the frost dates in mind and check the soil and air temperatures, coming up with a gardening schedule is straightforward.
If you found the information here helpful, please share this article with other people. Feel free to tell us your lawn care tips as well. We’ll be glad to hear from you.
Also, in spring conditions that are suitable to plant grass seeds in some states, you may don’t know, such as North Carolina, Ohio and Michigan
Hi, I am William – Floridayards’ digital content creator. My job is to find answers to all your concerns with thorough research and our team’s expert advice. I will also bring you honest reviews on the best products and equipment for raising your beautiful garden. Please look forward to our work!
