When to Broadcast Grass Seed

Sow grass seed in the spring or fall.

Grass seed needs moisture, warmth, air and light to germinate. If you sow them at the right time for your region, grass seed has sufficient time to grow and spread its roots, creating a green lawn.

Time Frame

There are two types of grass seed: cool season and warm season. Each has an appropriate planting time. Cool-season grasses, which are typically grown in the Northern states, should be planted in the early spring in April or early fall, late August to early September. Broadcast warm-season grasses, which are grown in Southern states, in late spring, May, or early summer, June.

Potential

Use the soil temperatures as a planting guide. Warm-season grass seed can germinate in soil that is between 65 and 70 degrees, whereas cool-season grass grows best in a temperature of 50 to 65 degrees.

Considerations

Broadcast seed in the North at least 90 days before the first frost is expected. In the South, 60 days before the expected frost is okay.

References

• Kerr Center: Cool Season Grasses -- Establishment and Management
• Seedland: Methods for Planting Seeds
• Virginia Tech: Spring and Summer Lawn Management Considerations for Warm-Season Turfgrasses
• All About Lawns: Careful Calendaring - When to Plant Grass Seed