When to Plant Grass Seed in Indiana
If you have wondered when the time is right to plant grass seed in Indiana, you’ve come to the right place! At Jonathan Green, we’ll provide tips and strategies that will help you achieve a thick, healthy and carefree lawn.
Since 1881, the Jonathan Green name has stood for genetically superior cool season grass seed, innovation, integrity, determination and a commitment to excellence. Today, six generations later, we remain committed to producing superior lawn and garden products.
We supply grass seed, soil enhancers, fertilizer, and organic lawn and garden products to professional customers, such as sod growers and independent retailers, throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwestern United States.
The Best Seed
Cool season grasses flourish across cooler northern climates, such as in Indiana, and into the “transition zone,” where cool and warm regions overlap. We recommend the following Jonathan Green Black Beauty® cool season grass seed mixtures:
- Black Beauty® Original Grass Seed – This original Jonathan Green grass seed blend is grown by sod growers across the USA. It grows roots up to 4′ deep and produces a naturally darker-green turf with improved disease resistance and drought tolerance thanks to a waxy leaf coating that helps preserve moisture and wards off stress from heat, cold, wind and disease. This blend grows well in clay or sandy soils and in full sun or partial shade.
- Black Beauty® Ultra Grass Seed – This seed mixture is most similar to what is found on sod farms and is ideal for sunny and shady areas. It contains exclusive, elite varieties of tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass and perennial ryegrass that will grow a naturally vibrant dark green and lush lawn with excellent heat and drought tolerance. Black Beauty Ultra® grass seed germinates in about 14 days.
- Black Beauty® Fall Magic™ Grass Seed – Specially formulated for successful fall seeding, this seed mixture contains several grass types, including Black Beauty® tall fescues. It can be used in sun and shade for overseeding or to start new lawns from scratch. Black Beauty® Fall Magic™ repairs summer damage and provides an attractive, thicker, greener lawn, with germination in 10 to 14 days.
Mentioned Products
The Best Planting Season
In Indiana, the ideal time to plant your new lawn is late summer or early fall (mid-August through early-October), or at least two months before the first frost of the season.
The soil at this time of year is still warm from months of summer sun. Warmer soil temperatures (from 50 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit) and consistent rainfall will encourage faster seed germination and deeper roots and help the grass plants get established before winter sets in.
Weed growth also tapers off in the fall, which means your new grass won’t have to compete for nutrients, water and sunshine.
The second-best time to seed a lawn in Indiana is in the spring, after air and soil temperatures have warmed up following winter. This season is more challenging for planting grass seed, however, because late-melting snow and early rainstorms often keep the soil too cold and wet, an inhospitable environment for germination and growth. Fortunately, Jonathan Green’s Black Beauty turfgrass mixtures are bred to perform even under these conditions, so you’ll usually have success, even with a spring seeding.
By following Jonathan Green’s revolutionary New American Lawn Plan, you will learn how to get to the root of any lawn problems, instead of merely battling the symptoms, such as weeds and insects. Our goal is to feed your lawn AND your soil and encourage your Black Beauty lawn to thrive.
For more information on how and/or when to plant grass seed in Indiana, visit Jonathan Green online or locate your nearest retail store where you can get reliable lawn and garden advice.