Grass & Seed

Soil temperature, not air temperature, is what tells grass seed to wake up. The ideal soil temperature for grass seed in Iowa lawns is roughly 50 to 65°F for cool-season species like ryegrass, fescue and Kentucky bluegrass. Air temperature only matters because it slowly moves the soil temperature up or down. That difference explains a lot of seeding surprises, like why a September seeding can sprout during a chilly week or why a warm April afternoon doesn't mean the ground is