Grass Seed Planting Calendar

Spring checklist, March - May

• Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees at 4-inch depth — on the Gulf Coast that's late January to mid-February, in Mo...
• Scalp bermuda lawns to 0.5 to 1 inch once you see 50% green-up — in Mobile that's usually late February to early March, in Birmingham mid-to-late M...

Fall checklist, September - October

• Apply a light winterizer fertilizer in early September in Anchorage and late August in Fairbanks — use a low-nitrogen, high-potassium formula to bu...
• Final mow to 2 to 2.5 inches before the lawn goes dormant — this happens by mid-September in Fairbanks and late September to early October in Ancho...

Spring checklist, March - May

• Scalp dormant bermuda to 0.5 inches in mid-March as soil temperatures hit 60 degrees and green-up begins — this is the critical spring reset that r...
• Begin the ryegrass-to-bermuda transition by cutting water back to every 4 to 5 days in late March — stress the winter ryegrass to give bermuda the...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Overseed fescue lawns in the Ozarks by mid-September through early October — this is the single most important maintenance event for cool-season la...
• Scout aggressively for armyworms from late September through mid-October — check the lawn at dusk when they're most active, and treat immediately w...

Fall checklist, September - November

• September through October is the prime window for overseeding tall fescue lawns in NorCal and the Central Coast.
• Apply a fall fertilizer with higher potassium (e.g., 10-0-10) to all grass types in October.

Fall checklist, September - November

• This is the prime seeding window for all cool-season grasses on the Front Range — late August through mid-October gives seedlings warm soil and coo...
• Overseed thin or damaged bluegrass and tall fescue lawns in early September for the best establishment odds

Fall checklist, September - November

• Overseed and aerate in September — this is the single most important lawn care month in Connecticut, with soil temperatures of 60 to 70 degrees, re...
• Core aerate compacted areas before overseeding for best seed-to-soil contact — two passes in perpendicular directions on clay-heavy or rocky soils

Fall checklist, September - November

• September 1 through October 15 is the prime overseeding and renovation window in Delaware — soil temperatures are warm, humidity drops, and fall ra...
• Core aerate in early September before overseeding — this is especially critical on northern Delaware Piedmont clay, where summer foot traffic has c...

Dry Season / Winter checklist, November - February

• Reduce mowing frequency in North Florida as Bermuda and Bahia enter dormancy — Central and South Florida lawns still grow, just slower
• This is prime seeding season for winter ryegrass overseeding in North Florida and the Panhandle

Spring checklist, March - May

• Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees at 4-inch depth — in Middle and South Georgia that's typically late February t...
• Scalp bermuda lawns to 0.5 to 0.75 inches once you see 50% green-up — in Macon and Savannah that's usually mid-to-late March, in Atlanta early Apri...

Spring checklist, March - May

• Apply a balanced slow-release fertilizer (16-4-8 or similar) in March to fuel the accelerating growth that comes with lengthening days and warming...
• Dethatch bermudagrass lawns if the thatch layer exceeds half an inch — bermuda builds thatch aggressively in Hawaii's year-round growing season, an...

Fall checklist, September - October

• Fall is Idaho's prime seeding and overseeding window — soil is warm, air is cooling, and September precipitation provides supplemental moisture in...
• In the Treasure Valley, seed or overseed by September 15th — first frost typically arrives between October 5th and October 15th, and seedlings need...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Overseed thin or damaged areas during the Labor Day window — the last week of August through mid-September is the single best time to seed cool-sea...
• Core aerate before or simultaneously with overseeding — this is mandatory for Chicagoland clay soils and beneficial everywhere in the state, pullin...

Fall checklist, September - November

• This is THE season for Indiana lawns — core aerate between August 15 and September 15, then overseed immediately into the aeration holes while soil...
• Overseed with a tall fescue or fescue-bluegrass blend at 6 to 8 lbs per 1,000 sq ft for overseeding or 8 to 10 lbs for full renovation — keep the s...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Overseed thin or damaged areas between September 1 and September 20 — this is the single best window for bluegrass establishment in Iowa, as soil i...
• Core aerate in early to mid-September — the combination of aeration plus overseeding plus fall fertilizer is the most powerful lawn improvement pro...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Overseed tall fescue lawns between September 1 and October 1 — this is the single most important maintenance event for cool-season lawns in Kansas,...
• Core aerate fescue lawns in September before or concurrent with overseeding — the plug holes provide perfect seed-to-soil contact

Fall checklist, September - November

• Overseed tall fescue between Labor Day and October 1 — this is the single most important lawn care task in Kentucky, and the UK Extension calls it...
• Core aerate before overseeding for best seed-to-soil contact — rent a core aerator and make two passes in perpendicular directions on compacted cla...

Spring checklist, March - May

• Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees at 4-inch depth — in South Louisiana (New Orleans, Lafayette, Lake Charles) th...
• Scalp bermuda lawns to 0.5 to 0.75 inches once 50% green-up is visible — in South Louisiana that's usually early-to-mid March, in Baton Rouge mid-M...

Fall checklist, September - October

• Late summer into early September is THE seeding window — get new grass rooted and hardened off well before the long freeze locks the ground down
• Apply the most important feeding of the year in early fall to drive root growth and store energy for winter survival

Fall checklist, September - November

• CRITICAL WINDOW for fescue overseeding: September 10 through October 15 in the DC suburbs and Baltimore corridor, September 1 through October 1 in...
• Apply starter fertilizer with fall seeding — this is the one time phosphorus application is justified on an established lawn under Maryland law, as...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Core aerate between mid-August and mid-September, then overseed immediately — this is the single most important lawn care task of the year in Massa...
• Overseed with a quality tall fescue or fescue-bluegrass blend at 6-8 lbs per 1,000 sq ft — keep seed moist with light daily watering for 14-21 days...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Overseed between August 15 and September 15 in southern Michigan (metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids) and August 1 to September 1 in northern L...
• Core aerate in early to mid-September while soil is warm and grass is actively growing — this is absolutely critical for Detroit-area clay soils an...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Execute fall overseeding between August 15 and September 10 in the Twin Cities — this is the single most important lawn care event of the year and...
• Core aerate and overseed simultaneously for the best results — aeration punches through clay compaction and creates perfect seed-to-soil contact in...

Spring checklist, March - May

• Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees at 4-inch depth — in south Mississippi that's late February, in Jackson early...
• Scalp bermuda lawns to 0.75 inches once 50% green-up is visible — mid-March on the coast, late March in Jackson, mid-April in north Mississippi.

Fall checklist, September - November

• This is THE season for Missouri tall fescue lawns — core aerate in late August to early September, then overseed immediately at 6 to 8 lbs per 1,00...
• The overseeding window in Missouri varies by region: August 25 through September 15 in northern Missouri and Kansas City, September 1 through Septe...

Fall checklist, September - October

• Complete all seeding and overseeding by September 10 at the absolute latest — grass needs a minimum of six weeks of growth before first hard freeze...
• Core aerate in early September to relieve compaction from summer use — Montana's clay soils benefit enormously from aeration, and the holes help se...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Core aerate and overseed from September 1 through October 1 — this is the single most important annual maintenance window for Nebraska lawns, when...
• Apply fall fertilizer (1 lb nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft) in mid-September to support root growth, recovery from summer stress, and carbohydrate storag...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Overseed cool-season lawns in Reno, Carson City, and Elko from September 1 through October 1 — this is the optimal establishment window for norther...
• Core aerate cool-season lawns in northern Nevada in September — the volcanic ash, decomposed granite, and compacted construction soils benefit enor...

Fall checklist, September - October

• Fall is the most important season for New Hampshire lawns — the combination of warm soil, cool air, adequate moisture, and declining weed pressure...
• Overseed between August 20th and September 10th in southern NH, August 10th to August 25th in the North Country — this is the single most impactful...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Fall is the most important season for New Jersey lawns — September through mid-October is the prime window for overseeding, aeration, and the ferti...
• Core aerate between September 1 and September 15, timing it before overseeding so seed falls into the aeration holes for optimal soil contact and g...

Fall checklist, October - November

• In Santa Fe and northern New Mexico, complete all cool-season seeding by September 10 — the short high-elevation growing season leaves no margin fo...
• Apply winterizer fertilizer with high potassium to cool-season grasses in Santa Fe and northern areas by mid-October to harden grass for winter dor...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Labor Day through September 20 (downstate) / August 25 - September 10 (upstate): THE overseeding window.
• Late September: Apply fall fertilizer (high-nitrogen, slow-release) to established turf — this feeds root development through November and is the m...

Fall checklist, September - November

• CRITICAL WINDOW for fescue: Overseed tall fescue between September 15 and October 15 in the Piedmont, September 1 to October 1 in the mountains.
• Apply a starter fertilizer (high phosphorus, like 18-24-12) with fall fescue seeding to promote root development before winter — new seedlings need...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Finish all cool-season seeding by early September — turf seeded after about September 10 rarely establishes enough to survive winter
• Overseed thin or winter-damaged bluegrass in late August or the first days of September while soil is still warm

Fall checklist, September - October

• This is the prime window — late August through mid-September is the single best time all year to seed, overseed, and renovate an Ohio lawn
• Core aerate the clay before overseeding; it's the most valuable thing you can do for a compacted Ohio lawn and fall is the time to do it

Fall checklist, September - November

• Overseed thin fescue lawns between September 15 and October 15 — this is the single most critical window for cool-season grass success in Oklahoma,...
• Apply a second round of pre-emergent in early September to prevent winter annual weeds like Poa annua, henbit, and chickweed

Fall checklist, September - November

• September is the most important month for Oregon lawns — the fall rains return, soil is still warm from summer, and this is your prime window for o...
• Core aerate in early to mid-September, especially on clay soils in Portland, Salem, and the coast — the holes allow water, air, and seed to reach t...

Fall checklist, September - November

• September: Continue watering new seed twice daily with light applications to keep the top half-inch of soil moist.
• September-October: The fall seeding window closes around September 25 in the Poconos and western PA, and October 5 in the Lehigh Valley and Philade...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Core aerate and overseed between Labor Day and September 30 — this is the prime lawn improvement window in Rhode Island, with warm soil, reliable m...
• Apply starter fertilizer (high phosphorus) at seeding time and follow with a balanced slow-release fertilizer 4 weeks later to fuel fall root devel...

Spring checklist, March - May

• Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees at 4-inch depth — on the coast and in the Midlands that's typically late Febru...
• Scalp bermuda lawns to 0.5 to 1 inch once you see 50% green-up — in Charleston and Myrtle Beach that's usually early-to-mid March, in Columbia mid-...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Execute fall overseeding between August 15 and September 10 — this is the most important lawn care event of the year and the window is tight in Sou...
• Core aerate annually, especially on eastern SD clay and Pierre shale gumbo — compacted alkaline clay is the single biggest barrier to root growth a...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Mid-September is THE critical window for tall fescue overseeding in Tennessee — core aerate first, then seed at 6-8 lbs per 1,000 sq ft (heavier ra...
• Apply starter fertilizer at overseeding time, then follow up with a balanced fall fertilizer in mid-October — fall nitrogen is the most important f...

Spring checklist, March - May

• Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil temperatures reach 55 degrees at 4-inch depth — typically early March in South Texas, mid-March in DFW, late...
• Scalp bermuda lawns to 0.5 to 0.75 inches in mid-March (South) or early April (North) once you see consistent green-up — this removes dead thatch a...

Fall checklist, September - November

• This is the prime cool-season seeding window on the Wasatch Front — late August through September gives seedlings warm soil and cooler air to root...
• Overseed thin or damaged bluegrass and tall fescue lawns in early September for the best establishment odds

Fall checklist, September - November

• Execute fall overseeding between August 20 and September 15 in the Champlain Valley and August 15 through September 5 in central and northern Vermo...
• Core aerate annually, especially on Champlain Valley clay — compaction from heavy clay and the freeze-thaw cycles of Vermont winters demand consist...

Fall checklist, September - November

• CRITICAL WINDOW for fescue overseeding: September 15 through October 15 in NoVA and the Piedmont, September 1 through October 1 in the Shenandoah V...
• Apply a starter fertilizer (high phosphorus like 18-24-12) with fall fescue seeding to drive root development — new seedlings need deep roots befor...

Fall checklist, September - October

• West side: this is the prime window — early September through mid-October, when the fall rains return and soil is still warm, gives new grass the l...
• Aerate and overseed thin or mossy west-side lawns now, and lime to correct the acidic soil heading into the wet season

Fall checklist, September - November

• Core aerate and overseed from September 1 through October 1 — this is the optimal window for West Virginia lawn improvement, when soil temps are wa...
• Apply fall fertilizer (1 lb nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft) in mid-September to support root growth, disease recovery, and carbohydrate storage for winte...

Fall checklist, September - November

• Execute fall overseeding between August 20 and September 15 in southern Wisconsin, August 10 and September 1 in central and northern areas — core a...
• Core aerate every fall on clay soils — this is non-negotiable in the Milwaukee metro, Fox Valley, and any area with glacial clay.

Fall checklist, September - November

• Execute fall overseeding between August 10 and September 5 in Cheyenne and Casper, and by August 1 in Jackson and high-elevation communities — thes...
• Core aerate annually to break through compacted clay — Wyoming's alkaline clay soils are among the most compaction-prone in the country, and mechan...