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13 states with a calendar

Tall fescue lawn care by state.

Tall fescue seeding windows fall between mid-August and October; Kentucky, Tennessee, Maryland and New Jersey add seed rates and spring fallbacks.

By LawnYear editorial team · Published · Updated Windows are read from the extension publications listed under Sources; the dates are approximate.

Approximate dates for your state. Check with your local cooperative extension office before you act.

Seeding windows by state

North Carolina gives August 15 to September 1 for the western region and September 1 to October 1 for the Piedmont and coastal plain. Pennsylvania says late August and early September, and Ohio says to finish by September 15. Missouri says around mid-September, and Georgia names October as the best month, with September and November possible. Virginia ranks August to October first and March to May second.

Mowing heights disagree

North Carolina gives 2.5 to 3.5 in across the year, Georgia 2 to 3 in all year, and Ohio's calendar 2.5 to 3 in. A 2025 Ohio State article advises 3 to 4 in for the lawn in early spring. Georgia's and Ohio's calendars both say not to remove more than a third of the blade at once; North Carolina's says to mow before the grass gets taller than 5 in in summer.

Cautions that come with tall fescue

Georgia says not to apply preemergence if a tall fescue lawn is to be seeded or sodded within 3 to 4 months. Missouri recommends a mix that is mostly tall fescue rather than Kentucky bluegrass alone, which it says may only suit northern Missouri.

Seed rates and spring fallbacks

Kentucky seeds turf-type tall fescue at 6 lb of pure live seed per 1,000 sq ft, Tennessee at 5 to 8 lb, Maryland at 6 to 8 lb and New Jersey at 4 to 6 lb. Kentucky and Maryland both keep a spring fallback, mid-February to mid-March in Kentucky and until about mid-April in central Maryland, while Tennessee warns that spring plantings often fail in the summer heat.

Fall seeding in the northern and upper-South states

Indiana gives August 15 to September 15 for central Indiana, Tennessee August 20 to September 15, Wisconsin late August to early September, and Kentucky mid-August to late September. New Jersey's northern and southern windows combine to August 15 to October 10, and Maryland says late summer to mid-October.

How the feedings are counted

Tennessee gives dated feedings, 1 lb of nitrogen on September 1, October 15 and November 15 plus 1/2 lb on March 15 and April 15. Kentucky ties 1 lb feedings in October and November to a medium maintenance level. Alabama's standard schedule is 1 lb in February, April and September, Indiana gives 1 lb in September and 1.5 lb in November, and Wisconsin puts about 1 lb in early September.

Tall fescue windows by state

For dates by ZIP code, use the lawn schedule by ZIP tool.

  • Virginia

    • Seed: Aug 15 – Oct 15Preferred seeding time for initial establishment or renovation. The chart marks it across the August to October columns; the dates are this site's reading of the mark, so treat them as approximate for all of Virginia.
    • Seed: Mar 1 – May 31Second-best seeding time, March to May. Fall seeding is preferred.
    • Fertilize: Aug 15 – Oct 31Preferred nitrogen timing is fall: up to 0.7 lb water-soluble N per 1,000 sq ft every 3 to 4 weeks. Months are read from the chart mark and are approximate; test the soil every 3 to 4 years.
    • Fertilize: Mar 1 – May 31Second-best nitrogen timing, March to May: 0.25 to 0.5 lb water-soluble N per 1,000 sq ft every 4 to 8 weeks.
    • Weed control: Mar 1 – Apr 30Spring preemergent herbicide against crabgrass, goosegrass and foxtail (March to April on the chart). Skip it where you plan to seed.
    • Weed control: Aug 15 – Sep 15Fall preemergent herbicide against annual bluegrass and winter annual broadleaves such as henbit and chickweed. Skip it where you plan to seed.
    [1]Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech), 2025(opens in a new tab)

  • North Carolina

    • Seed: Aug 15 – Oct 1Overseed thin or bare areas as the weather cools: August 15 to September 1 in the western region, September 1 to October 1 in the Piedmont and coastal plain; 6 lb of turf-type tall fescue seed per 1,000 sq ft. Pick the window for your part of the state.
    • Fertilize: Sep 15 – Nov 301 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft in mid-September and again in November, when the grass is green but not actively growing. Test the soil first.
    • Fertilize: Feb 1 – Feb 281 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft in February.
    • Weed control: Mar 1 – Mar 31Preemergent herbicide for crabgrass, goosegrass and foxtail. The calendar says it is best applied in early March, sooner in the Piedmont and coastal regions; the whole month is shown.
    • Mow: Mar 1 – Nov 30Mowing height by season: 2.5 to 3.5 in (March to May), 3.5 in (June to August), 2.5 to 3 in (September to November); 3 in in winter. Shown here as the overall range, 2.5 to 3.5 in. Mow before the grass gets taller than 5 in in summer.
    • Water: Mar 1 – Nov 30About 1 inch of water a week, ideally not all at once, wetting the soil 4 to 6 in deep. In summer, water as needed to prevent drought stress or let the lawn go dormant.
    [2]NC State Extension (2021)(opens in a new tab)

  • Georgia

    • Seed: Oct 1 – Oct 31October is the best month for seeding a new lawn: 5 to 6 lb of turf-type tall fescue per 1,000 sq ft. February, March, September and November are possible.
    • Fertilize: Feb 1 – Mar 31Best months February and March (April possible); 2 to 4 lb N per 1,000 sq ft a year. Follow the soil test.
    • Fertilize: Oct 1 – Nov 30Best months October and November (September possible); 2 to 4 lb N per 1,000 sq ft a year. Follow the soil test.
    • Weed control: Feb 1 – Mar 31Spring preemergent is best in February and March; April is possible. Do not apply preemergence if the lawn is to be seeded or sodded within 3 to 4 months.
    • Mow: Jan 1 – Dec 312 to 3 in all year; raise 1/2 in in hot weather and remove no more than 1/3 of the height at once.
    • Water: Jan 1 – Dec 311 inch per week if there is no rainfall.
    [3]University of Georgia Cooperative Extension (2023)(opens in a new tab)

  • Pennsylvania

    • Seed: Aug 15 – Oct 15Late summer is the optimum time to seed in most of Pennsylvania (late August and early September); seeding later than mid-October is not suggested. Start date is interpreted from 'late summer'.
    • Fertilize: Apr 15 – May 31Nitrogen is applied in mid- to late spring and/or late summer to early fall; follow the label rate. Window is interpreted from 'mid- to late spring'.
    • Fertilize: Aug 15 – Oct 15Nitrogen is applied in mid- to late spring and/or late summer to early fall; follow the label rate. Window is interpreted from 'late summer/early fall'.
    • Weed control: Mar 15 – May 15Preemergence herbicide for crabgrass in early to mid-spring: March 15 to April 15 in southeastern Pennsylvania, April 1 to May 1 in other areas, April 15 to May 15 in the northern tier and high-altitude counties. The union is shown; use your area's window.
    [4]Penn State Extension (2025)(opens in a new tab)[5]Penn State Extension(opens in a new tab)[6]Penn State Extension (2016)(opens in a new tab)

  • Ohio

    • Seed: Sep 1 – Sep 15Seeding, overseeding or renovation is best done by September 15 for fall establishment; if it cannot be done by October 15 in northern Ohio, wait until spring. Calendar is written for northeastern Ohio and covers all of Ohio only approximately.
    • Seed: Mar 1 – Apr 30Spring seeding: sow as soon as the soil is workable, carried into early April if necessary (end of April is this site's reading of 'early April'). Fall is the better season. Calendar is written for northeastern Ohio and covers all of Ohio only approximately.
    • Fertilize: Apr 1 – May 31Without a late-fall application: 1/2 lb actual N per 1,000 sq ft about April 1 and again about May 25. After a late-fall application: one spring application, in late April or early May, of no more than 3/4 lb N. Calendar is written for northeastern Ohio and covers all of Ohio only approximately.
    • Fertilize: Oct 1 – Nov 30Late October or early November, after the first hard frost while the grass is still green: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft; the calendar calls it the most important feeding of the year. Months are shown; wait for the frost. Calendar is written for northeastern Ohio and covers all of Ohio only approximately.
    • Weed control: Apr 1 – Apr 25Preemergent herbicide for crabgrass and other annual grassy weeds in the first weeks of April; the deadline for northeastern Ohio is April 25.
    • Mow: Apr 1 – Nov 30Tall fescue is mowed at 2.5 to 3 in; never remove more than 1/3 of the blade. A 2025 Ohio State article advises 3 to 4 in. Months run April to November as the calendar lists mowing in those sections.
    [7]Ohio State University Extension, Lake County (2007)(opens in a new tab)[8]Ohio State University (Buckeye Turf), 2025(opens in a new tab)

  • Missouri

    • Seed: Sep 1 – Sep 30Fall seeding around mid-September; seeding in April or May is often a losing proposition because summer stress follows. Whole month shown.
    • Fertilize: Apr 1 – Apr 30Early to mid April: 0.5 to 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft, preferably slow release. Avoid late spring and early summer nitrogen on cool-season lawns. Whole month shown.
    • Fertilize: Sep 1 – Oct 311 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in mid-September and another 1 lb in mid-October. Whole months shown.
    [9]University of Missouri (Integrated Pest Management), 2015(opens in a new tab)

  • Kentucky

    • Seed: Aug 15 – Sep 30The best time to seed cool-season grasses is mid-August to late September (the end date is this site's reading of 'late September'); early fall has cool temperatures, fall rains and no crabgrass competition. Seed turf-type tall fescue, not Kentucky 31, at 6 lb of pure live seed per 1,000 sq ft.
    • Seed: Feb 15 – Mar 15The second-best time is mid-February to mid-March, but not later than mid-April. Spring seedings will likely need a pre-emergent herbicide that still allows seed to germinate, and seedings from late spring to midsummer often fail.
    • Fertilize: Oct 1 – Nov 30Fall is the best time to fertilize cool-season lawns. Nitrogen at 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft per application goes on in October for low maintenance, October and November for medium, October to December for high, and September to December for very high. The general guideline is 1 lb of actual nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft at any one application. If color is not a concern, UK says to skip spring feeding because crabgrass and other weeds respond more than cool-season grasses do. Tall fescue is 2 to 4 lb of nitrogen a year, in autumn.
    • Weed control: Apr 1 – Apr 30Crabgrass and goosegrass are normally controlled with a pre-emergent herbicide applied in April, and UK does not recommend weed-and-feed products because the best time for the herbicide rarely matches the best time for fertilizer. Whole month shown.
    [10]University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2016)(opens in a new tab)[11]University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (2014)(opens in a new tab)

  • Indiana

    • Seed: Aug 15 – Sep 15Reseed thin or bare areas starting in the middle of August; the optimum seeding window is August 15 to September 15 in central Indiana. AY-27 describes lawns of cool-season grasses; maintenance levels (high, medium, low) are the publication's own.
    • Fertilize: May 1 – May 31High maintenance only: 0.75 to 1.0 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in May, mostly slow release, unless fertilizer went down with a preemergence herbicide in April. Whole month shown.
    • Fertilize: Sep 1 – Sep 301 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in September at every maintenance level. Whole month shown.
    • Fertilize: Nov 1 – Nov 301.5 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in November at every maintenance level, as a fast-release product such as urea after the final mowing while the grass is still green. Whole month shown.
    • Weed control: Apr 1 – Apr 30High and medium maintenance: a preemergence herbicide in April if crabgrass has been a problem. Use a product with little or no nitrogen, in slow-release form, and avoid more than 0.75 lb N per 1,000 sq ft. Whole month shown.
    • Weed control: Oct 1 – Oct 31Control dandelions and other broadleaf weeds in October, when spot or blanket broadleaf herbicide applications are most effective. Whole month shown.
    • Mow: Apr 1 – Nov 30Mow at 2.5 to 3.5 in from April, as soon as the lawn greens up, for as long as the grass is growing; do not lower the height for the last mowings. Remove no more than a third of the blade at once. Months are the calendar's April to November entries.
    • Water: Jun 1 – Aug 31High maintenance only: irrigate as needed in summer, thoroughly, and do not water again until the first signs of drought stress. June to August are the calendar's entries.
    [12]Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service (1998)(opens in a new tab)

  • Maryland

    • Seed: Aug 15 – Oct 15Seed from late summer to mid-October (start date is this site's reading of 'late summer'). New tall fescue lawns are seeded at 6 to 8 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Spring sowing is possible if a project cannot wait; the page suggests waiting until about mid-April in central Maryland.
    • Fertilize: Aug 15 – Oct 31Fertilize in late summer to mid-autumn as the lawn needs it (start date is this site's reading of 'late summer'); the page says not to fertilize in summer. The page says the amount depends on a soil test and gives no rate.
    • Fertilize: Nov 1 – Nov 15A second dose in late autumn must go on before the November 15 cutoff; shown as November 1 to 15.
    • Fertilize: Apr 1 – May 15An optional spring dose for weak or stressed lawns, April to about mid-May (or Memorial Day).
    • Weed control: Mar 1 – Apr 30Preemergent herbicide in March to April; it may need more than one application, and the page says not to use one where you plan to seed. Whole months shown.
    [13]University of Maryland Extension (2026)(opens in a new tab)[14]University of Maryland Extension (2026)(opens in a new tab)

  • Tennessee

    • Seed: Aug 20 – Sep 15Seed 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.
    • Fertilize: Mar 15 – Apr 151/2 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft on March 15 and again on April 15, using quickly available nitrogen.
    • Fertilize: Sep 1 – Nov 151 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft on September 1, October 15 and November 15. The publication says to use no more than 1 lb of nitrogen at one time.
    [15]University of Tennessee Extension (2010)(opens in a new tab)

  • Alabama

    • Fertilize: Feb 1 – Apr 30Standard schedule: 1 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in February, April and September, 3 lb a year. The maximum schedule is 4 lb a year and puts the spring doses in February and March.
    • Fertilize: Sep 1 – Sep 301 lb N per 1,000 sq ft in September on the standard schedule; the maximum schedule adds a November dose (outside the window shown).
    [16]Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University), 2023(opens in a new tab)

  • Wisconsin

    • Seed: Aug 20 – Sep 10Seed, sod or renovate in late August to early September (shown as August 20 to September 10, this site's reading of the season words), after preparing the soil 4 to 6 in deep. Early fall is the better choice.
    • Seed: Apr 20 – May 10Spring seeding or overseeding in late April to early May (this site's reading) works only if seedlings can establish before hot weather; the calendar prefers early fall.
    • Fertilize: Sep 1 – Sep 15Early fall, September 1 to 15, is the key nitrogen time for all lawns: about 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft of controlled-release nitrogen. Avoid mid-fall nitrogen. A3435 adds that no application should exceed 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft.
    • Fertilize: May 20 – Jun 10Medium and high maintenance lawns get nitrogen in late May to early June, around Memorial Day (this site's reading): 1 lb per 1,000 sq ft in full sun and 1/2 lb in shade. The calendar says to wait until the second mowing in spring.
    • Water: Jun 1 – Aug 31About 1 inch of water a week in summer keeps a lawn green and growing, applied early in the day, deeply and evenly; decide before drought whether to irrigate or let the lawn go dormant. Months are this site's reading of 'summer'.
    [17]University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension (2025)(opens in a new tab)[18]University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension (2022)(opens in a new tab)

  • New Jersey

    • Seed: Aug 15 – Oct 10Fall seeding runs August 20 to October 10 in southern New Jersey (Trenton and south) and August 15 to October 5 in the north; the window shown is the union of both. Tall fescue is seeded at 4 to 6 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Spring is a secondary period, early spring, with no dates given.
    • Fertilize: Aug 15 – Sep 30A lawn in full sun takes about 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft in late summer to early fall (shown as August 15 to September 30, this site's reading). Avoid fertilizing in the hot summer months.
    • Fertilize: Nov 1 – Nov 30A second application in late fall is possible if lawn conditions and a soil test support it (shown as November, this site's reading).
    • Weed control: Apr 1 – Apr 30Apply preemergent herbicide before crabgrass germinates, which is mid to late April in central and northern New Jersey and early to mid April in the south; Rutgers says to apply as soon as forsythia is in full bloom. The whole of April is this site's reading.
    • Weed control: Jun 1 – Jun 15In areas with severe infestations or sandy soils, a second preemergent application in early June is suggested for some products (shown as June 1 to 15, this site's reading).
    [19]Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2004(opens in a new tab)[20]Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2023(opens in a new tab)[21]Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2019(opens in a new tab)

Approximate dates for your state. Check with your local cooperative extension office before you act.

Sources

The dates and figures on this page come from these publications.

  1. [1]
    Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech) ↗ (opens in a new tab)Publication 430-523, Maintenance Calendar for Cool-Season Turfgrasses in Virginia (2025). Preferred and second-best months are marked on a chart.Publication year 2025 · Read 2026-10-29
  2. [2]
    NC State Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)AG-367, Tall Fescue Lawn Maintenance Calendar (July 2021).Publication year 2021 · Read 2026-10-29
  3. [3]
    University of Georgia Cooperative Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Turf-Type Tall Fescue Lawn Calendar (September 2023); months rated B best, P possible, M marginal.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-29
  4. [4]
    Penn State Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Lawn Establishment (September 2025).Publication year 2025 · Read 2026-10-29
  5. [5]
    Penn State Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Lawn Management Through the Seasons.Read 2026-10-29
  6. [6]
    Penn State Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Turfgrass Species for Pennsylvania (2016); lists the cool-season species adapted to Pennsylvania.Publication year 2016 · Read 2026-10-29
  7. [7]
    Ohio State University Extension, Lake County ↗ (opens in a new tab)F.S. 101, Lawn Care Calendar for Northeastern Ohio (revised 2007); month-by-month, geared to northern Ohio.Publication year 2007 · Read 2026-10-29
  8. [8]
    Ohio State University (Buckeye Turf) ↗ (opens in a new tab)Early Spring Lawn Care (March 2025); recommends a 3 to 4 inch lawn height.Publication year 2025 · Read 2026-10-29
  9. [9]
    University of Missouri (Integrated Pest Management) ↗ (opens in a new tab)Seeding and Fertilizing Missouri Lawns: One Size Does Not Fit All (2014, revised 2015).Publication year 2015 · Read 2026-10-29
  10. [10]
    University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service ↗ (opens in a new tab)AGR-50, Lawn Establishment in Kentucky (2016); seeding times and rates (in pure live seed) for cool-season grasses and planting time for warm-season grasses.Publication year 2016 · Read 2026-10-30
  11. [11]
    University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service ↗ (opens in a new tab)AGR-212, Fertilizing Your Lawn (2014); nitrogen timing and rates by grass and maintenance level, and the April preemergent timing for crabgrass.Publication year 2014 · Read 2026-10-30
  12. [12]
    Purdue University Cooperative Extension Service ↗ (opens in a new tab)AY-27, Maintenance Calendar for Indiana Lawns (1998); month-by-month calendar for cool-season grasses at high, medium and low maintenance levels.Publication year 1998 · Read 2026-10-30
  13. [13]
    University of Maryland Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Lawn Maintenance Calendar (2026); seasonal timing for tall fescue, fine fescue and zoysia, page updated March 16, 2026. Gives seasons and months, no nitrogen rates.Publication year 2026 · Read 2026-10-30
  14. [14]
    University of Maryland Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Starting a New Lawn (2026); seeding rates per 1,000 sq ft by turf type, page updated March 16, 2026.Publication year 2026 · Read 2026-10-30
  15. [15]
    University of Tennessee Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)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.Publication year 2010 · Read 2026-10-30
  16. [16]
    Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Auburn University) ↗ (opens in a new tab)ANR-0239, Home Lawn Maintenance (2023); Table 2 monthly nitrogen schedule by grass and Table 1 mowing heights.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-30
  17. [17]
    University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)Wisconsin Lawn Care Calendar (2025); spring, summer and fall practices for cool-season grasses.Publication year 2025 · Read 2026-10-30
  18. [18]
    University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension ↗ (opens in a new tab)A3435, Lawn Maintenance (2022); fertilization periods and rates by maintenance level, and a limit of 1 lb of nitrogen per application.Publication year 2022 · Read 2026-10-30
  19. [19]
    Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES) ↗ (opens in a new tab)FS584, Seeding Your Lawn (2004); fall seeding dates for northern and southern New Jersey and seeding rates by species.Publication year 2004 · Read 2026-10-30
  20. [20]
    Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES) ↗ (opens in a new tab)FS102, Your Lawn and Its Care (2023); fertilizing season and rates, mowing height.Publication year 2023 · Read 2026-10-30
  21. [21]
    Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES) ↗ (opens in a new tab)FS1308, Crabgrass Control in Lawns for Homeowners in the Northern US (2019); preemergent timing in New Jersey.Publication year 2019 · Read 2026-10-30