The Best Time to Seed a Lawn

Adding fresh seed to a lawn is the cheapest and easiest way to keep it healthy and looking good. The young plants that germinate out of grass seeds are very fragile---and can easily die if they are stressed. Timing is crucial.

Grass seeds grow best when they will be warm, but not exposed to too much heat. Soil temperatures need to be above 55 degrees Fahrenheit, and there should be no risk of frost.

Another argument for cooler weather planting is that grass seeds need to stay damp through their entire germination period. This can be anywhere from a few days to 3 weeks depending on the grass variety. Plan to water your seeds daily.

Scattering grass seed on an established lawn, or overseeding, can fail if the grass seeds do not make contact with the soil. You can help the seeds meet the soil by seeding when the grass is short, like on mowing day. Seed instructions usually suggest that the new grass stays uncut until it reaches 3 inches high.

Seeding grass can be difficult if the ground is compacted or covered with thatch. If you plan to aerate or dethatch, include overseeding as part of that activity. Some dethatching machines have seed hoppers attached to make this a one-step operation.

If you're planting new grass in a large area or doing patch work on bare soil, make sure the ground is prepared. The soil should be loosened 2 to 4 inches deep for planting new grass.