When To Plant Grass Seed In Illinois
This will give you the coverage for the seasonal changes while exploiting the best characteristics of each grass.
When to plant grass seed in illinois. Zoysiagrass - This is the only warm-season grass grown as a lawn in Illinois. Seeding in late spring through mid-summer often leads to problems as the summer heat slows or stops grass development of our cool season grasses. However fall is the preferred time giving the grass seed longer and more favorable weather conditions for establishment.
Overseeding establishment optimum time - first week. Mid August to early September is the ideal time for seeding lawns in northern Illinois. Seeding can occur as soon as a seedbed can be prepared usually late March to early April.
In Illinois new grass seed has the best chance of survival if its planted late in summer after the worst of the seasons heat has passedTable of contents. Planting grass seed in Illinois should be done between August 15 and October 1. Plenty of moisture usually provided by rain but supplemented by a sprinkler if needed.
In some cases planting in both fall and spring 2 times can work to increase successful cover on problem areas. While spring has the advantages of cooler temperatures conditions can get hot and wet very quickly. This has been once again tested by the experts over a long period of time and the experts have found out the following.
One of the most popular questions we are asked is when is the best time to plant grass in Southern Illinois. As a general rule plant cool-season grass seed at least 45 days before the estimated date of your first fall frost before soil and air temperatures drop to less favorable levels. That being the season it would naturally fall it appeared evident to.
Spring planting allows warm-weather grasses to get the benefit of warm temperatures that come with summer while giving them time to establish before cooler weather in fall. Our response to this is in mid-late August through September. If you opt for this consider planting cool weather grass seed in the early fall and then in the early spring overseed your lawn with warm weather grasses.