Fall overseeding calendar: Exactly when to put seed down
By My Yard Editorial Team · 7/28/2026
The Quick Answer
Seed when soil temperature is 50–65°F and falling — for most northern lawns that's August 15 through September 20. Later than early October and it won't root before frost.
The Witty Breakdown
Air temperature lies to you. Soil temperature is what triggers germination, and it lags the air by weeks.
Fall works because weeds are shutting down while grass is waking up. Spring seeding is a fistfight with crabgrass you will lose.
Step-by-Step Fix
- 1
Check soil temp with a $12 probe at 2 inches deep, mid-morning.
- 2
Mow low (2 inches) and bag once before seeding for seed-to-soil contact.
- 3
Core aerate, then spread seed, then top-dress lightly with compost.
- 4
Water lightly 2–3 times daily until germination, then taper to deep and infrequent.
Pro-Tip / Do Not Do This
Don't apply fall pre-emergent crabgrass control if you're seeding. It blocks your grass seed exactly as well as it blocks weeds.
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