Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
Can I Plant Grass Seed in October?
Can I Plant Grass Seed in October?. Grass for lawn planting comes in cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses. Cool-season grasses are planted in the fall. In warm climates, they give you a green lawn over the winter months. In cooler climates, they provide summer green. The best time to plant your new lawn depends on your climate. Early fall...
Grass for lawn planting comes in cool-season grasses and warm-season grasses. Cool-season grasses are planted in the fall. In warm climates, they give you a green lawn over the winter months. In cooler climates, they provide summer green. The best time to plant your new lawn depends on your climate. Early fall planting is best to give the lawn time to become established. In most areas, Oct. 15 is considered the last date to plant grass seed.
Fescue Grasses
Fescue grasses do well in the autumn. Sow 6 to 8 lbs. of fescue seed for every 1,000 square feet of lawn. Keep the grass watered with at least 1 1/2 inch of water each week for the first month or two. Once it is established, it is drought and cold tolerant. Fescue grasses die back in the summer heat, so you will need to plant a warm-season grass in the spring.
Rye Grasses
The rye grasses are also appropriate for October planting in warmer climates. Sow 3 to 5 lbs of winter rye seed per 1,000 square feet of existing grasses or use 5 to 7 lbs of seed for 1,000 square feet of bare earth. They need two to four weeks of frost-free weather to become established, so adjust the planting date for your area. Bare-earth planting needs more time to become established.
Bluegrasses
Bluegrass seeds are best planted in the early fall, but planting as late as Oct. 15 is often successful. With late planting, mix in approximately 40 percent rye grass seed. The rye grass germinates quickly and provides cover for the bluegrass over the winter.
Overseeding
Overseeding is used to fill in bare spots or to alternate between cool-season and warm-season grasses. Before sowing the seed, mow the lawn to approximately 1 to 1? inches. Sow the seeds at a rate of half the amount indicated for a new planting. Keep the soil moist while the seed germinates and for a few weeks afterward while the grass becomes established.
Preparing a New Lawn
Prepare the soil before planting by leveling the seedbed and mixing in nutrient-rich organic compost. Spread the seed evenly over the area and rake it gently to bury the seed. Water with a fine spray to avoid washing the seeds away.
