When to plant grass seed in zone 6a
In zone 6a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 29, sow outdoors March 18 to April 1. For a fall crop, plant September 5 to 19.
The zone 6a schedule for grass seed
- Sow outdoors
- March 18 to April 1
- Plant for a fall crop
- September 5 to 19
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for grass seed.
Dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work: a squeezed handful crumbles instead of sticking. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.
Frost risk in zone 6a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 16 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 11 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 4 to October 24. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 16Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 29Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Your dates for grass seed
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant grass seed where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Grass Seed in zone 6a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | Apr 11 | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
| Indianapolis city, IN | Apr 15 | Mar 4 to 18 | Sep 14 to 28 |
| Denver, CO | May 4 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | May 3 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
| Omaha, NE | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 9 to 23 |
| Aurora, CO | May 4 | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
| Lincoln, NE | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Fort Wayne, IN | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 9 to 23 |
| Grand Rapids, MI | Apr 29 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Sep 8 to 22 |
| Lakewood, CO | May 5 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 24 to Sep 7 |
| Springfield, MA | May 3 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
| Joliet, IL | Apr 19 | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 13 to 27 |
How to grow grass seedAll zonesGrass Seed in zone 5bGrass Seed in zone 6bAbout zone 6a
Sources
- Lawn Establishment (HGIC 1203) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- Starting a New Lawn · University of Maryland Extension
- AGR-50 Lawn Establishment in Kentucky · University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service
- Lawn Establishment · Penn State Extension
- AY-20 Seeding a Turf Area in the Spring · Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service
- Choose the right grass seed for a thriving lawn · University of Illinois Extension
- Northern Utah Turfgrass Management Calendar · Utah State University Extension
- Time for Fall Lawn Seeding · University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension (Lancaster County)
- Spring/Summer Lawn Care (Crop and Soil Environmental News, March 2005) · Virginia Cooperative Extension / Virginia Tech
- Planting Summer Grass · NC State Extension, Pender County
- Grass seed germination rates · UC Statewide IPM Program, University of California ANR
- Turfgrass Species (Pest Management Guidelines) · UC Statewide IPM Program, University of California ANR
- ENH14 Overseeding Florida Lawns for Winter Color (2007 revision, archival) · University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- AZ1683 Overseeding Winter Grasses into Bermudagrass Turf · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Bermudagrass · K-State Research and Extension, Ford County
- Chapter 10: Turfgrass Management in Tennessee (Master Gardener Handbook) · University of Tennessee Extension
- Chapter 11: Lawns (Virginia Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Handbook) · Virginia Cooperative Extension / Virginia Tech