As spring hits its stride, the air around your lawn as well as your lawn’s topsoil both become warmer. This double warming effect prompts germination, especially for grass seed.
The grass in your yard is one of two types: warm season or cool season. Depending on the climate your grass prefers, the ground temperature will have a significant impact on both seeds and established grass. Cool season grasses won’t grow if the soil temperature rises to 85 degrees Fahrenheit, while warm season grasses won’t grow until the soil temperature reaches at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
For a lawn that stays healthy and growing, you need to pay attention to your ground temperature. For example, if you live here in Alabama, you probably don’t want to put down cool season grass in your yard because the minute the weather gets hot (and you know it will), your grass will go dormant. That means your yard will be brown while your neighbors’ are green and lush.
Dormancy
When grasses go into a state of dormancy, it’s kind of like a bear hibernating for the winter. There’s not enough moisture for the grass, so it copes by going dormant until things start to warm up again. Here in the South, this usually starts around mid-October and ends sometime in March.
For your grass to start growing again, the soil temperature needs to reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit and stay between about 60 degrees and 85 degrees from night to day. Once temperatures soar beyond 85 degrees and stay there consistently, your grass may go dormant again — especially if it’s not raining enough. If this happens, you need to water your grass regularly to make sure it doesn’t die from the heat.
Lawn Care During Dormant Months
You may wonder if you really need lawn care during dormant months. The answer is yes! This is a great time to fertilize your lawn and strengthen your yard’s root system, which will result in a better looking lawn come spring. You can also get regular weed control, which kills winter weeds and sets you up for success in the warmer months when your lawn comes out of dormancy.
Running Roots can handle your weed control while your grass is dormant, and we can also take care of your weed control needs during the warmer months when everything is growing again. As an added bonus, we’re also available for mosquito control applications, too!
Ready to hear more? Get a free quote today and turn your lawn into the beautiful, comfortable space you’ve always wanted it to be.
FAQs
For your grass to start growing again, the soil temperature needs to reach 70 degrees Fahrenheit and stay between about 60 degrees and 85 degrees from night to day. Once temperatures soar beyond 85 degrees and stay there consistently, your grass may go dormant again — especially if it's not raining enough.
At what soil temperature does grass go dormant? ›
Soil temperature—Warm-season grasses go dormant when soil temps remain consistently below 55 degrees Farenheit. For cool-season grasses, the soil temp that triggers dormancy is 45 degrees F.
What temperature does grass need to grow? ›
Temperature – Soil temperature plays a major role in the growth of grass. When soil temperatures reach 50 degrees, grass will start to come out of dormancy and grow. Between 50 and 75 degrees, cool season grasses will grow most vigorously.
What is the best soil temperature for grass seed germination? ›
Cool-season grass seed germinates best when soil temperatures reach 50 to 60 degrees Fahrenheit. This roughly corresponds to daytime air temperatures in the 60°F to 75°F range. An inexpensive soil thermometer, available at garden stores and online retailers, can help eliminate the guesswork.
What makes grass go dormant? ›
A dormant lawn is a lawn that is not currently growing. The grass may be brown or covered in snow, but it is still alive. Grass typically goes dormant in the winter because it's too cold for photosynthesis to occur. This means that it has different needs than usual in order to survive.
Should you mow dormant grass? ›
Dormant lawns (those that have turned brown) should not be mowed. Pedestrian and mower traffic could damage the turf. Gardeners have two basic options on lawn care when confronted with hot, dry weather. One option is to simply allow the turf to turn brown and go dormant.
Should I water dormant grass in summer? ›
During an extended drought of 3 to 4 weeks along with temperatures in the mid-80s or higher, dormant grasses continue to lose moisture from the crowns of the plants. Continued loss of water in the crown can cause the plants to die. To prevent death of dormant plants, apply about 1/2 inch of water every 2 to 3 weeks.
Can I just throw grass seed down on an existing lawn? ›
Will grass seed grow if you just throw it on the ground? Definitely yes! Hand-sowing is the simplest method if you only need to cover a few spots. Take a handful of seeds and spread them over the dead patch, or better yet, involve your kids and introduce them to some basic gardening chores.
Will grass grow at 40 degrees? ›
Grass seed will typically germinate at temperatures between 40-80°F (4.5-26.7°C).
What month does grass grow fastest? ›
Peak grass growing season varies by grass type: Warm-season grasses grow most actively in late spring and early summer, when the warm weather temperatures are above 75 F but below 90 F. Cool-season grasses grow most actively in spring and fall, when temperatures are above 60 F but below 75°F.
Daytime temperatures around 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit typically mean the soil temperature is between 50 and 65 degrees and perfect for seed germination. If the soil temperature is much lower than 50 degrees, however, the seeds will lay dormant and not germinate.
How hot is too hot for grass seed? ›
Cool-season grasses grow most actively when the air temperatures are between 50 and 80 degrees F, the soil temperature is 50 to 65 degree F, and rain is plentiful. Cool-season grasses go dormant and do not grow during hot weather, when the soil temperature goes above 65 degrees F.
How many days does it take grass seed to germinate? ›
Most grass seed will start growing in about 10-14 days, but sometimes it can take up to 30 days.
Should you fertilize a dormant lawn? ›
Fertilizing a dormant lawn will not harm it. However, the turfgrass may not receive the full benefit of the fertilizer application. If the granular fertilizer remains on the soil surface because of a lack of rain, some of the material may actually volatilize into the air.
How do you keep dormant grass from dying? ›
Follow These Tips to Bring Grass out of Dormancy:
- Water. If the drought season goes beyond four weeks, then you have to water your lawn to rehydrate the grass and wet the soil down to a depth of 5 inches. ...
- Fertilize. Avoid excessive fertilization in the dormancy period. ...
- Control Weeds. ...
- Mow. ...
- Reduce Traffic. ...
- Rehydration.
Dormant grass can be revived with a bit of TLC. However, dead grass will need to be resodded in order to restore your lawn. If there are easy-to-distinguish sections of green and brown in your lawn, chances are the brown or pale areas are dead and need to be resodded. After all, you can't actually revive dead grass.
Is it better to leave your lawn long or short for winter? ›
The ideal grass height for winter is between 2 inches and 2.5 inches. This keeps grass short enough to resist disease spread, but not so short that it becomes overly stressed by cold temperatures.
What temperature does grass seed go dormant? ›
Daytime temperatures around 60 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit typically mean the soil temperature is between 50 and 65 degrees and perfect for seed germination. If the soil temperature is much lower than 50 degrees, however, the seeds will lay dormant and not germinate.
What temperature is too cold to mow grass? ›
Depending on the climate where you live and the species of your grass, the growth of your grass will either significantly slow down or go into dormancy during the cold winter months. You should never mow your lawn when temperatures are below freezing point or consistently below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Does grass go dormant in summer heat? ›
Once temperatures reach 77 degrees, it becomes too hot for root growth, and root growth ceases. When temperatures reach 90 degrees, it becomes too hot for shoot growth and the grasses stop growing and begin to fall dormant, with the surface grass turning a brown hue.
