When to plant grass seed in zone 6b
In zone 6b, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 23, sow outdoors March 12 to 26. For a fall crop, plant September 10 to 24.
The zone 6b schedule for grass seed
- Sow outdoors
- March 12 to 26
- Plant for a fall crop
- September 10 to 24
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 4,514 ZIP codes in zone 6b, 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 6b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 6b, the typical last frost ranges from about April 10 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to May 6 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 9 to October 29. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 8Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 23Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 9Safe: 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 6b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Plant | Fall |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus, OH | Apr 18 | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 15 to 29 |
| Boston, MA | Apr 4 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
| Detroit, MI | Apr 21 | Mar 10 to 24 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
| Kansas City, MO | Apr 4 | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Cleveland, OH | Apr 8 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Oct 1 to 15 |
| Cincinnati, OH | Apr 16 | Mar 5 to 19 | Sep 13 to 27 |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 15 to 29 |
| Buffalo, NY | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 14 to 28 |
| Toledo, OH | Apr 20 | Mar 9 to 23 | Sep 15 to 29 |
| Boise City, ID | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 9 to 23 |
| Spokane, WA | Apr 26 | Mar 15 to 29 | Sep 3 to 17 |
| Rochester, NY | Apr 24 | Mar 13 to 27 | Sep 13 to 27 |
How to grow grass seedAll zonesGrass Seed in zone 6aGrass Seed in zone 7aAbout zone 6b
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