How Late to Sow Grass Seed in North Carolina?

Plant a mixture of grasses for the thickest lawn.

Grow cool-season grasses in North Carolina. They thrive in the spring and fall, then turn dormant in the winter and summer. The most common grasses in the state's western region are bluegrass, tall fescue or bluegrass-fescue mixtures. In eastern North Carolina, plant tall fescue.

Time Frame

The latest you should sow grass seed in North Carolina is mid-October. This gives the seedlings time to become well established and grow into a thick lawn before the hot summer weather arrives the next year.

Considerations

Grass seed mixtures grow better than single types because they combine the positive attributes of the individual grasses. Mixtures better handle soil moisture and temperature conditions, as well as fight off turf diseases.

Prevention/Solution

North Carolina soil commonly suffers from a low pH, making it acidic. Plan to amend the soil six months before planting grass seed. Add agricultural grade limestone, following the results of a soil test.

References

• North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: Lawn and Garden Tips