Planting Seasons for Grass Seed in Ohio

Warm-Season Grass Seed Planting

• Planting warm-season grass seeds in the spring, late April or early May, produces thickly laid lawns, pastures and grass patches in gardens. Warm-season grasses, such as Switchgrass, Indiangrass and Blue Bigstem, grow best during the hot summer months of June, July and August. Ohio State University Extension reports warm-season grass seeds grow well in soil with a low pH content that does not absorb large amounts of water.

Warm-Season Grasses

• Switchgrass is a perennial that grows up to 5 feet tall in bunches or thick blades. It must be planted in well-draining soil, as it is susceptible to flooding. Indiangrass grows up to 6 feet tall. The grass spreads slowly and handles some flooding. Blue Bigstem grows up to 6 feet tall, turning red-purple at maturity. It handles dry soil well and produces buds in the spring. Eastern Gamagrass grows up to 12 feet high, thriving in swamplands and creek bottoms and along the sides of streams. It is a good grass to use for hay.

Cool-Season Grass Seed Planting

• Cool-season grasses are often planted for turf used in sporting facilities. The Ohio State University Extension recommends planting Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass or Perennial Ryegrass on high-traffic surfaces because the seeds germinate promptly and the grasses are resistant to heat, pests and cold spells. Depending on the species, plant cool-season grass seeds three to nine months before using the surface for play. Cool-season grass seeds grow best in the spring, slowly in the summer and then quicker and thicker in the fall.

Cold-Season Grasses

• Kentucky Bluegrass is used on most sports fields in Ohio. It spreads underground, producing new growth. Germination can take up to 21 days, depending on weeds and weather conditions. Perennial Ryegrass seeds germinate in three to five days and must be planted in well-drained, fertile soil. It is not highly resistant to disease and extremely cold weather. Tall Fescue is a courser grass that grows well in shaded areas and requires little maintenance. Its seeds germinate in five to seven days and develop deep roots. Tall Fescue typically stays green throughout the summers, even in dry conditions.

Warm and Cool-Season Grasses

• Grasses can grow together and in fact, warm-season varieties can fill in the void when the cool-season species are dormant. The grazing season lasts longer if the grasses are produced as hay for livestock. The animals eat the warm-season growth, leaving the rest for storing. Livestock grasses for haying include Eastern Gamagrass, Indiangrass, Blue Bigstem and Switchgrass.