The best time to plant warm-season grass in Oklahoma is between May 1 and July 1, and the best time to plant cool-season grass is from late September to late October.
Various factors influence when you should plant new grass, such as soil temperature, grass type, and climate. Discover the best time to plant grass seed in Oklahoma, whether you want bermudagrass, buffalograss, Kentucky bluegrass, or anything else.
Warm-season grass: between May 1 and July 1
Soil temperatures range from 68° to 95°F between May 1 and July 1, which is ideal for warm-season grasses to germinate and grow, as the illustration above shows. Additionally, it’s early enough in the year that the grass has enough time to establish before winter, when it goes dormant.
Each grass must be planted at specific times:
| Bermudagrass | May 1 to July 15 | |
| Arizona common Bermudagrass | On or before May 1 | |
| Guymon Bermudagrass | No later than July 15 | |
| Buffalograss | seed | No later than July 1 |
| Buffalograss | vegetative | May to July |
| St. Augustinegrass | May | |
| Zoysiagrass | seed | May to July |
| Zoysiagrass | vegetative | No later than July 1 |
Cool-season grass: between late September and October
As the illustration above shows, cool-season grasses grow most aggressively in the spring and fall. Between the two seasons, University of Oklahoma turf experts recommend planting in the fall, four to six weeks before the first autumn frost. The soil temperature during this time ranges from 68° to 86°F, which is ideal for cool-season grasses to germinate.
It’s also better to plant in fall than in spring because the grass will have more time to grow before summer, when heat stresses the grass. However, you can plant cool-season grasses in March if you missed the October deadline.
Don’t plant in November and December, as it’s too cold for them to germinate optimally.
Here are a list of specific times to plant grass:
| Kentucky bluegrass | seed | September to October |
| Kentucky bluegrass | sod | September to May |
| Perennial ryegrass | seed | September to October |
| Tall fescue | seed | September to October |
| Tall fescue | sod | September to May |
When to overseed your lawn
The best time to overseed your lawn in Oklahoma is in the fall between late September and mid-November. The soil is warm and moist and the air temperature is between 60° and 75°F. As a result, there’s less competition from warm-season grasses and the new grass roots can develop before winter.
More Lawn Care and Landscaping Resources for Oklahoma
Read the following articles to learn more about lawn care and landscaping in Oklahoma:
- The Best Grass Seed for Oklahoma Lawns
- Month-to-Month Oklahoma Lawn Care Schedule
- When to Fertilize Your Oklahoma Lawn
- When to Aerate Your Lawn in Oklahoma
Hiring a professional
Planting grass seed requires timing and care for best results. We can help. Contact a Lawn Love professional and get a lawn you can love.
Main Image Credit: Dean Clarke | Shutterstock
