When to seed tall fescue in Tennessee?
By LawnYear editorial team · Published · Updated Windows are read from the extension publications listed under Sources; the dates are approximate.
The answer
Seed tall fescue in Tennessee from Aug 20 to Sep 15, per University of Tennessee Extension (2010). Seed in late summer, August 20 to September 15, just before the most favorable conditions; early spring seeding is possible but spring plantings often fail in summer heat. Tall fescue is seeded at 5 to 8 lb per 1,000 sq ft.
Full calendar: Tennessee lawn care calendar · Tall fescue in other states · Lawn schedule by ZIP
Approximate dates for your state. Check with your local cooperative extension office before you act.
All Tennessee windows for tall fescue
The Tennessee calendar on this site lists seeding Aug 20 to Sep 15 and fertilizing Mar 15 to Apr 15 and Sep 1 to Nov 15 for tall fescue.
Where the dates come from
University of Tennessee Extension: PB1576, Selecting, Establishing and Maintaining the Fescues (2010); seeding window and rates, fertilization calendar and mowing heights. The year is the date of the university's repository record. Read on 2026-10-30.
What to check for Tennessee
The seeding dates for tall fescue above (Aug 20 to Sep 15) apply to Tennessee as a whole, so the north and south of the state are not told apart.
Other grasses in Tennessee
For fine fescue, the Tennessee calendar gives Aug 20 to Sep 15 for seeding.
Seeding tall fescue in other states
- Virginia: Aug 15 to Oct 15 and Mar 1 to May 31, per Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech), 2025.
- North Carolina: Aug 15 to Oct 1, per NC State Extension (2021).
- Georgia: Oct 1 to Oct 31, per University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2023).
- Pennsylvania: Aug 15 to Oct 15, per Penn State Extension.
- Ohio: Sep 1 to Sep 15 and Mar 1 to Apr 30, per Ohio State University Extension, Lake County (2007).
- Missouri: Sep 1 to Sep 30, per University of Missouri (Integrated Pest Management), 2015.
- Kentucky: Aug 15 to Sep 30 and Feb 15 to Mar 15, per University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2016).
- Indiana: Aug 15 to Sep 15, per Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service (1998).
- Maryland: Aug 15 to Oct 15, per University of Maryland Extension (2026).
- Wisconsin: Aug 20 to Sep 10 and Apr 20 to May 10, per University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension (2025).
- New Jersey: Aug 15 to Oct 10, per Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2004.