Northern Ohio: If you live in northern Ohio, the best time to seed your lawn is between mid-August and mid-September. Central Ohio: If you live in central Ohio, plant your grass seed between September and mid-October.
For Northeast Ohio, the ideal time to sow grass seeds is between mid-August to mid-September. Central Ohio homeowners can plant grass seeds anytime between mid-September to mid-October. In Southern Ohio, planting can be started by mid-September and can be stretched until around the end of October.
Therefore, we have an optimal growing season from September to November. However, it is important to remember that it takes grass seed around 10 days to germinate, which is why we aim for mid-October as our cutoff date for seeding. In summary, target late summer to early Fall for your cool season grass seeding work.
When Should I Plant Grass Seed in My Yard? Few things beat the feeling of cool grass underneath our bare feet. When it comes to starting a lawn from scratch, though, the best time to plant grass seeds in Ohio is late summer to early fall – mid-August to early October.
Another reiteration of the general rule above is to count 45-60 days before the first fall frost date to plant grass seeds. Consider the 60th day to be the last day to plant grass seed.
If you've missed that window, but you still want to conduct seeding practices this fall, my recommendation is to wait until November to seed. This practice is called “dormant seeding” and is certainly an effective way to introduce new species and/or varieties of turf into your existing lawn.
Reinvigorate Your Lawn
By spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, you can thicken up the thin areas, and your lawn will start to look terrific again.
to improve or thicken healthy, existing lawns
If thicker than 1/2″, de-thatch and clean up the debris, so seed will be able to make proper contact with the soil. Amend soil and rough grade, if needed. Apply your grass seed mix of choice at a rate of 1-2lbs per 1,000 square feet (overseeding rate).
The freezing process will also help the seed-to-soil contact by cracking and heaving the soil. For best results, try to time dormant seeding prior to snowfall. Snowfall provides excellent cover for the seeds and protects them from birds, wind or washing away. Don't sow seed directly on top of snow.
If the daytime temperature is below 60°F then soil temperature is below 50°F, making it too cold; if there is frost or still a danger of frost, then it's too cold. If it's too cold, the grass seeds will likely rot.
Overseeding lawns that consist of cool season grasses is essential for maintaining their long-term health and vibrancy. It is often the single best thing you can do to improve the quality of your lawn. The absolute best time to overseed your Ohio lawn is in the early fall.
When it's October, people often wonder if it is too late to plant new seed. The good news is if you hurry, seed can still be planted in October with the hope that it will survive the upcoming winter. Although September is the best time, often we can still plant grass seed up to October 15 with good results.
You'll need to wait until soil temperatures drop well below 50 degrees before you think of dormant seeding. Here in Ohio, this means you must wait until mid-December, as you can't take a chance that the seed will start to germinate.
It can take from two to four weeks for grasses to grow in October, especially if it is a warm-season grass. Cool-season grasses can still germinate and take root in the cooler temperatures of late fall, though you might not see their full potential until spring.
Early fall is the best time to plant cool-season grasses, such as Fescue, Rye and Bluegrass. These grasses grow best when the temperature is between 60-80 degrees Fahrenheit, and benefit from the shorter days and cooler nights. There is also less competition from crabgrass and foxtails.
The recommended species include: Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue and fine fescue. Kentucky bluegrass is the primary lawn turfgrass grown in Ohio.
Raking is necessary because the seeds need to come in contact with the soil to germinate properly. Grass seed is typically spread on the lawn using a spreader and this does not ensure good contact between seed and soil.
Mow the lawn prior to overseeding. Water the lawn to moisten the soil, but make sure it's not soaking wet. A good rule of thumb is to water the day before you plan to overseed so the soil has a little time to dry.
These are the Kentucky Bluegrass, Perennial Ryegrass, Tall and Fine Fescues, and Bent Grass. Ideally, they should be planted in the fall or spring, when there's more shade than sun. At Nature's Seed, you can find everything you need to grow the perfect Ohio lawn.
Fall is the best time. The autumn season comes with a mix of warm soil and cool air, perfect for planting grass seed and allowing time for new grass roots to develop before winter sets in. It is also a good time to fertilize to build stronger, deeper roots for winter, resulting in a thicker, greener lawn next spring.
Watering your new grass twice a day for a month or two should do the trick.
Technically, yes. Planting a lawn is as simple as sprinkling seeds on the ground. But if you're growing grass on hard dirt, you should prepare and aerate the soil before. Also, it's important to sprinkle the seeds during the grass's peak growing season and mix them slightly with the dirt.
It depends on the type of grass. Kentucky bluegrass has runners that help it spread on its own. But many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don't spread, so seeding is needed to fill in bare spots. Perennial ryegrass and fescue are among the non-spreaders.
Grass seed is surface sown, meaning lays and roots on top of the soil, so it does not need to be buried. It's usually broadcast over the ground with a hand or rotary spreader. In order for that seed to sprout, it needs good soil contact, which makes soil quality a major factor in growing a healthy, uniform lawn.