When to plant grass seed
Sow grass seed 4–8 weeks after the last spring frost in spring, or 6–9 weeks before the first fall frost for a fall crop. Wait until the soil is at least 55°F. That works out to zone 5b (early June to late June), zone 7a (mid May to early June) and zone 9a (late March to late April).
Grass seed planting dates by zone
| Zone | Spring | Fall | grass seed ready from |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4a | Jun 12 – Jul 10 | Jul 25 – Aug 15 | Jul 3 |
| 4b | Jun 10 – Jul 8 | Jul 28 – Aug 18 | Jul 1 |
| 5a | Jun 8 – Jul 6 | Jul 30 – Aug 20 | Jun 29 |
| 5b | Jun 2 – Jun 30 | Aug 6 – Aug 27 | Jun 23 |
| 6a | May 28 – Jun 25 | Aug 13 – Sep 3 | Jun 18 |
| 6b | May 22 – Jun 19 | Aug 17 – Sep 7 | Jun 12 |
| 7a | May 13 – Jun 10 | Aug 23 – Sep 13 | Jun 3 |
| 7b | May 4 – Jun 1 | Aug 30 – Sep 20 | May 25 |
| 8a | Apr 24 – May 22 | Sep 5 – Sep 26 | May 15 |
| 8b | Apr 13 – May 11 | Sep 13 – Oct 4 | May 4 |
| 9a | Mar 30 – Apr 27 | Sep 24 – Oct 15 | Apr 20 |
| 9b | Mar 4 – Apr 1 | Oct 8 – Oct 29 | Mar 25 |
How to plant grass seed
| Plant as | seed |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 55°F or warmer |
| Depth | 1/8–1/4 in |
| Spacing | Per bag rate |
| Light | Varies by grass |
| Time to harvest | 7–30 days |
Cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass) are best sown in late summer to early fall, about 6–9 weeks before the first frost.
Warm-season grasses (Bermuda, zoysia, centipede) are sown in late spring once soil is above 65°F, about 4–8 weeks after the last frost.
Keep the seedbed moist with light daily watering until germination.
When to harvest grass seed
Mow new grass when it reaches about one-third taller than the target height.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.