Lawn care calendar for New Jersey.
Rutgers splits New Jersey in two at Trenton for seeding dates and ties the preemergent herbicide to the forsythia bloom.
Get dates for my ZIP →By LawnYear editorial team · Published · Updated Windows are read from the extension publications listed under Sources; the dates are approximate.
Short answer for New Jersey
In New Jersey, for Kentucky bluegrass, seed Aug 15 to Oct 10; fertilize Aug 15 to Sep 30 and Nov 1 to Nov 30; weed control Apr 1 to Apr 30 and Jun 1 to Jun 15, per Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2004, 2019 and 2023.
For tall fescue, seed Aug 15 to Oct 10; fertilize Aug 15 to Sep 30 and Nov 1 to Nov 30; weed control Apr 1 to Apr 30 and Jun 1 to Jun 15, per Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2004, 2019 and 2023.
For fine fescue, seed Aug 15 to Oct 10; fertilize Aug 15 to Sep 30 and Nov 1 to Nov 30; weed control Apr 1 to Apr 30 and Jun 1 to Jun 15, per Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2004, 2019 and 2023.
For perennial ryegrass, seed Aug 15 to Oct 10; fertilize Aug 15 to Sep 30 and Nov 1 to Nov 30; weed control Apr 1 to Apr 30 and Jun 1 to Jun 15, per Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2004, 2019 and 2023.
Approximate dates for your state. Check with your local cooperative extension office before you act.
Windows by grass and task
| Grass | Seed | Fertilize | Weed control | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky bluegrass | Aug 15 to Oct 10 | Aug 15 to Sep 30Nov 1 to Nov 30 | Apr 1 to Apr 30Jun 1 to Jun 15 | Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2004Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2023Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2019 |
| Tall fescue | Aug 15 to Oct 10 | Aug 15 to Sep 30Nov 1 to Nov 30 | Apr 1 to Apr 30Jun 1 to Jun 15 | Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2004Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2023Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2019 |
| Fine fescue | Aug 15 to Oct 10 | Aug 15 to Sep 30Nov 1 to Nov 30 | Apr 1 to Apr 30Jun 1 to Jun 15 | Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2004Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2023Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2019 |
| Perennial ryegrass | Aug 15 to Oct 10 | Aug 15 to Sep 30Nov 1 to Nov 30 | Apr 1 to Apr 30Jun 1 to Jun 15 | Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2004Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2023Rutgers Cooperative Extension (NJAES), 2019 |
Calendar by grass
Grasses the source covers with one shared calendar are shown together. Open a group for each task, its note and its source. Want dates for your ZIP code? Use the lawn schedule by ZIP tool.
Kentucky bluegrass
5 tasks
Kentucky bluegrass in New Jersey
Seed
Aug 15 – Oct 10
Fall 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. Kentucky bluegrass is seeded at about 2 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Spring is a secondary period, early spring, with no dates given.
Kentucky bluegrass in New Jersey
Fertilize
Aug 15 – Sep 30
A 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.
Kentucky bluegrass in New Jersey
Fertilize
Nov 1 – Nov 30
A second application in late fall is possible if lawn conditions and a soil test support it (shown as November, this site's reading).
Kentucky bluegrass in New Jersey
Weed control
Apr 1 – Apr 30
Apply 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.
Kentucky bluegrass in New Jersey
Weed control
Jun 1 – Jun 15
In 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).
Tall fescue
5 tasks
Tall fescue in New Jersey
Seed
Aug 15 – Oct 10
Fall 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.
Tall fescue in New Jersey
Fertilize
Aug 15 – Sep 30
A 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.
Tall fescue in New Jersey
Fertilize
Nov 1 – Nov 30
A second application in late fall is possible if lawn conditions and a soil test support it (shown as November, this site's reading).
Tall fescue in New Jersey
Weed control
Apr 1 – Apr 30
Apply 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.
Tall fescue in New Jersey
Weed control
Jun 1 – Jun 15
In 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).
Fine fescue
5 tasks
Fine fescue in New Jersey
Seed
Aug 15 – Oct 10
Fall 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. Hard, sheep and creeping red fine fescues are seeded at 4 to 6 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Spring is a secondary period, early spring, with no dates given.
Fine fescue in New Jersey
Fertilize
Aug 15 – Sep 30
A 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.
Fine fescue in New Jersey
Fertilize
Nov 1 – Nov 30
A second application in late fall is possible if lawn conditions and a soil test support it (shown as November, this site's reading).
Fine fescue in New Jersey
Weed control
Apr 1 – Apr 30
Apply 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.
Fine fescue in New Jersey
Weed control
Jun 1 – Jun 15
In 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).
Perennial ryegrass
5 tasks
Perennial ryegrass in New Jersey
Seed
Aug 15 – Oct 10
Fall 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. Perennial ryegrass is seeded at 4 to 6 lb per 1,000 sq ft. Spring is a secondary period, early spring, with no dates given.
Perennial ryegrass in New Jersey
Fertilize
Aug 15 – Sep 30
A 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.
Perennial ryegrass in New Jersey
Fertilize
Nov 1 – Nov 30
A second application in late fall is possible if lawn conditions and a soil test support it (shown as November, this site's reading).
Perennial ryegrass in New Jersey
Weed control
Apr 1 – Apr 30
Apply 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.
Perennial ryegrass in New Jersey
Weed control
Jun 1 – Jun 15
In 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).
Three Rutgers fact sheets, one per task
FS584 covers seeding, FS102 covers fertilizing and mowing, and FS1308 covers crabgrass control. Together they give fall seeding dates, a nitrogen schedule and a preemergent window for Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescues and perennial ryegrass. None of them is a calendar, so each window is built from separate publications that were written years apart, from 2004 to 2023.
The seeding dates differ by about five days
FS584 gives August 20 to October 10 in New Jersey south of Trenton and August 15 to October 5 north of it, and the window on this site is the union of both. Seed rates are about 2 lb per 1,000 sq ft for Kentucky bluegrass and 4 to 6 lb for tall fescue, fine fescues and perennial ryegrass. Spring is a secondary period, early spring, and the sheet says spring seedings need higher rates but gives no figure.
Feeding is a late-summer job, with a small second dose
FS102 says a lawn in full sun takes about 1 lb of nitrogen per 1,000 sq ft in late summer to early fall, with a second application in late fall if a soil test supports it. It says to avoid fertilizing in the hot summer months, and to avoid nitrogen in late winter and early spring, when leaching is likelier. Shade lawns get one or two fall applications and no more than 2 lb in total.
Forsythia tells you when to apply the preemergent
FS1308 says crabgrass germinates in mid to late April in central and northern New Jersey and in early to mid April in the south, and to apply the preemergent as soon as forsythia is in full bloom. For severe infestations or sandy soils some products get a second application in early June. FS102 gives a mowing height of 2.5 to 3.5 in and says to stop mowing in the fall once growth has essentially ceased, so no mowing window is shown.
Sources
The dates and figures on this page come from these publications.
- [1]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
- [2]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
- [3]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