Spring Seeding of Cool Season Gasses – Yes or No?
by Daniel J. Mertz, Henrico County & Richmond City Master Gardeners
Lawn and turf experts continue to warn against spring seeding of cool season grasses. Yet in
Henrico County, across Virginia and the United States massive quantities of seed will be
purchased and planted. The odds of this seed germinating, growing and surviving across the
seasons are slim.
Why do we continue to do it? The National Gardening Association conducts annual industry
research. They report Spring (April, May and June) is a major cool season buying period
because homeowners want to fix failed fall seeding and winter damage.
Cool season grasses thrive in spring and fall. Warm season grasses perform well in the hot
summer months. The places best suited for cool season grass are a four-hour drive north of
Henrico County. Warm season grasses dominate the same four-hour drive south of Henrico
County.
Along with other mid-Atlantic States we are stuck in the transition zone. Cool season turf-type
tall fescues have come to be the preferred lawn grass. Many varieties have been developed to
overcome some of the problems presented by our climate.
But it sometimes happens that even fall seedings are compromised and can be no more
effective than spring seeding. Fall is recommended because there are two cool growing
seasons, precipitation filled, before the challenges of a hot summer.
If you are frustrated, you are not alone! The last five years have been challenging.
Soil temperature and soil moisture levels are critical for seed germination. National Weather
Service data collected at RIC supports the notion of fall seeding. However, since 2021
precipitation in September, October, and November has been severely inadequate. An inch or
more every week is ideal. From 2021-2025 the averages for September, October, and
November were 4.23, 2.22 and 2.21 respectively.
Virginia Cooperative Extension has advice for spring planting of cool season grasses.