When to Plant Grass Seed in Tennessee
When you want to plant grass seed in Tennessee, improve the odds for success by choosing the best time of year and products from Jonathan Green to ensure the best results.
Jonathan Green supplies genetically superior cool season grass seed, soil enhancers, fertilizer, and organic lawn products to professional customers, such as sod growers and independent hardware stores and garden centers throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern United States, and recently the far Western United States.
We are also leaders in organics and have developed an environmentally sound approach to lawn care called the New American Lawn Plan. The Plan combines our Black Beauty® grass seed mixtures with organic and traditional soil amendments, lawn fertilizers and control products that feed your lawn AND your soil so air, water and nutrients get absorbed by the grass.
Plant in Early Fall
It is possible to plant grass seeds in Tennessee in the spring, between late February and early April, but cool-season grass seeds, such as Jonathan Green Black Beauty®, fare best when planted in the early fall (late August to mid-October).
The warm days and cool nights in fall are ideal for seed germination. Weed growth also tapers off at this time of year, so your new grass seedlings won’t have to compete for sunshine, water and nutrients. Fall planting will give them the benefit of two cool growing cycles before the heat of summer sets in.
Prepare the Soil
Before you lay any seed down, the soil must be at the right pH and must be aerated and loosened to promote proper root growth. Jonathan Green has two terrific products that can help get your soil ready for new grass seed.
Mag-I-Cal® for Lawns in Acidic Soil is specially formulated to quickly raise or lower your soil to the ideal pH range of between 6.2 and 7.0. For pH that falls below 6.2, use Mag-I-Cal® for Lawns in Acidic Soil. For pH that is above 7.0, use Mag-I-Cal® Plus for Lawns in Alkaline & Hard Soil. (You can purchase a Soil pH Test Kit for Lawns from any hardware or garden supply store in your area.)
Once you have addressed the soil pH, the soil needs to be loosened and aerated for best root growth. This can be done with Love Your Soil®. This innovative soil treatment activates the microbes within the soil. Once activated, the microbes allow for nutrients to be easily absorbed by the grass roots, resulting in stronger, heartier grass. Both of these products can be applied right before laying down new seed.
We also recommend Veri-Green Starter Fertilizer for Seeding & Sodding to encourage your new grass seed grow quicker and thicker. The high-phosphorus formula helps to build a vigorous root system, gets new grass plantings off to a fast start for a thicker, greener lawn, and will continue feeding your lawn for up to two months.
Mentioned Products
For more help with when to plant grass seed in Tennessee and how to care for your lush Black Beauty lawn, visit Jonathan Green online or stop by your local independent home and garden retailer to discuss your project.