The Best Time to Plant Grass Seed in Ohio

Time Frame

• The best time to plant grass seed in Ohio is in early spring, once the danger of frost has passed. April is a good month, but the seed can be sowed in March if there's an early warming, or as late as May if the temperature is cooler. If you wait until May, make sure to plant the seed early enough so the roots can begin to grow before the heat sets in. Cool-season grasses also can be planted in the late summer/early fall---between August 15 and September 15.

Considerations

• Sow cool-season grasses when the soil is 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm-season grass seed needs warmer temperatures---between 65 and 70 Fahrenheit. In Ohio, sow the seeds at least 90 days before the first frost is expected.

Possibility

• If the spring and early fall planting window were missed, the grass seed can be sowed close to winter to achieve a lawn in the spring. The seed won't sprout but will stay dormant until spring. Beware that snow could move some of the seed, creating gaps in a new lawn.