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When to plant tall fescue

Sow tall fescue outdoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost and plant again for fall 4 to 6 weeks before the first fall frost.

Your dates for tall fescue

Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant tall fescue where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.

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Tall Fescue planting dates by zone

JFMAMJJASOND Zone 4b Zone 5b Zone 6b Zone 7b Zone 8b Zone 9a
Sow outdoorsFall plantingDates use each zone's typical frost dates. Enter your ZIP code for your own.
Dates from each zone's typical (median) frost dates.
ZoneSow outdoorsFall planting
Zone 2aJun 3 to 17—
Zone 3aMay 28 to Jun 11—
Zone 3bMay 24 to Jun 7—
Zone 4aMay 19 to Jun 2—
Zone 4bMay 14 to 28—
Zone 5aMay 11 to 25—
Zone 5bMay 10 to 24—
Zone 6aMay 4 to 18—
Zone 6bApr 26 to May 10Sep 10 to 24
Zone 7aApr 19 to May 3Sep 13 to 27
Zone 7bApr 9 to 23Sep 20 to Oct 4
Zone 8aMar 25 to Apr 8Sep 26 to Oct 10
Zone 8bMar 11 to 25Oct 2 to 16
Zone 9aFeb 20 to Mar 6Oct 15 to 29
Zone 9bDec 20 to Jan 3Oct 28 to Nov 11

Spring dates before the last frost assume the soil has thawed and is dry enough to work. After a late or wet spring, wait for that even if the date has passed.

Where frost is rare

UC IPM calls tall fescue the most common lawn grass in California: it tolerates warm summers and stays green in mild winters, though it is not well suited to high elevations. Farther south, north Alabama is the southern edge of its range; there summer heat thins stands, so lawns are often overseeded every fall. In Florida, fescue is listed only as a temporary winter overseeding grass (about 7 lb per 1,000 sq ft), with ryegrass preferred.

How to grow tall fescueYour full planting calendar

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