When to Plant Grass Seed

Observe Mother Nature

Logically, most seeds are planted in the spring by human beings practicing agriculture, yet in observing the actual production of seeds, one will discover that seeds are produced and distributed in the natural world at highly variable times, even for the same plant.

Modern grass seed is related to common grains used for food. Food-grain seed, including wheat, flax, oats, barley, buckwheat, and corn was historically hoarded over the winter as a food supply, for that practice also guaranteed human survival by retaining and guarding enough seed for spring planting .
The immediate derivative conclusion might be that all seeds, must be planted in the spring. Not so. Deciding when to plant grass seed might be reasonably considered a decision of logic, economic practicality, or the science of Mother Nature herself.

Warm Season Regions:
In warm season regions, one can plant grass seed at any time except the very hottest time of the year. Even then, if watering is adequate, grasses will emerge successfully if handled carefully, so the question of specific timing for planting of grass seed is more applicable to colder areas suffering from extreme seasons.

Cool Season Regions:
Fall planting of other grains is practiced . Winter wheat withstands even the severe cold of the Canadian prairies, even very late in the fall, allowing only enough time for the wheat to emerge before freeze up.
"Cool season" grass seed is capable of the same amazing performance. If you live in a cool season region, it is a safe practice to plant grass seed in the fall. Bluegrass, fescues, and perennial ryes may all be planted in the fall and germinate with good success.
In addition, the same grasses may also be planted immediately prior to freeze up, just as Mother Nature herself might do. Grass seed planted at that time will simply remain dormant and germinate in the spring.

One may plant grass seed early in the spring, as soon as the snow is gone, which may be logically equated to a very late fall planting with a subsequent winter period of dormancy.

Scientifically, the fact of dormancy becomes involved with all seed; if conditions are too hot, too cold, or otherwise, seed will simply not germinate.
The only caveat in very early spring planting is the possibility of a cold, wet, and extended spring season, which could

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