The current average 2-inch soil temperature across California is 71°F. Readings range from 45°F to 97°F, from 24 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across California is running 3°F above the seasonal normal of 68°F for early October, based on 24 of 24 stations with historical records. California spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 11a, crossing from cool-season into warm-season grass country. Last updated September 30, 2026.
Soil across California is cooling off its summer peak at an average of 71°F at 2 inches. The fall poa annua pre-emergent window is in play as readings fall through the 65–70°F band, and cool-season overseeding follows close behind.
California spans both grass families: cool-season lawns are more common toward the cooler, northern parts of the state and at elevation, warm-season lawns toward the warmer south.
For cool-season lawns (fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass), fall is the best time to plant grass seed in California, with spring the second choice: fall seedlings face less weed competition and mature before summer heat. The window opens as 2-inch soil falls back through 70°F, and germination slows sharply once soil drops below 50°F, typically around November 7.
Spring is the second choice: the window opens when soil first holds 50°F and narrows as soil passes 65°F, typically by May 11.
For warm-season lawns (bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine), the best time to plant grass seed in California is late spring into early summer, when soil is warming and a full growing season lies ahead. The window opens when 2-inch soil reaches 65°F and keeps rising, and closes as soil cools back through 65°F, typically around October 18.
| Region | Typical spring window opens | Typical fall window opens | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern California | April 21 | August 18 | 8 |
| Central California | February 26 | October 11 | 8 |
| Southern California | February 24 | October 14 | 8 |
Fall seeding also needs a stop date: new seedlings want about six weeks of growth before frost arrives. Your city page estimates the last safe seeding date from its nearest station: see when to plant in Sacramento, when to plant in Los Angeles or when to plant in San Diego. Readings current through September 30, 2026: California averages 71°F at 2 inches right now; the Current Planting Conditions section above reads that number against the season.
Typical dates are computed from historical 2-inch soil temperature averages at 24 monitoring stations in California; your own window depends on your nearest station's readings.
Historical 2-inch soil temperature normals for California: the median across 24 in-state stations with multi-year records. Any given year runs ahead of or behind these values; the live average at the top of this page shows where this year stands.
| Month | Average 2-inch soil temperature |
|---|---|
| January | 44°F |
| February | 48°F |
| March | 52°F |
| April | 57°F |
| May | 68°F |
| June | 80°F |
| July | 88°F |
| August | 84°F |
| September | 75°F |
| October | 66°F |
| November | 53°F |
| December | 46°F |
Shaded spring cells fall in the 50°F to 55°F pre-emergent window at 2-inch depth. The highlighted row is the current month.
Grass seed germination
Grass seed germination temperatures across California. Soil warmth varies by location, so check a city page for the live reading and what germinates there now.
| Grass species | Seeding soil temp (2 in) | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky bluegrass | 60–70°F | 14-30 |
| Tall fescue | 60–70°F | 7-12 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 60–70°F | 5-10 |
| Fine fescue | 60–70°F | 7-14 |
| Bermudagrass | 75–90°F | 10-30 |
For root-zone timing (fertilizer, aeration, weed control), see the 4-inch soil temperature for California. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for California. For how wet the ground is versus normal, see soil moisture for California. See the California soil temperature map for the full station view.
Interpolated from the latest 4-inch readings and refreshed daily.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Marble Creek (Mono) | 67°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Desert Center (Riverside) | 86°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Ford Dry Lake (Riverside) | 82°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Essex (San Bernardino) | 70°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Shadow Mtns (San Bernardino) | 68°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Deep Springs (Inyo) | 66°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Cochora Ranch (San Luis Obispo) | 76°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Death Valley Jct (Inyo) | 79°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Doe Ridge (Mono) | 62°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Eagle Lake (Lassen) | 56°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Bodie Hills (Mono) | 45°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Monocline Ridge (Fresno) | 86°F | 2026-09-30 |
| French Gulch (Shasta) | 73°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Stubblefield (San Luis Obispo) | 70°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Vallecitos (San Benito) | 75°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Adobe (Mono) | 56°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Rancheria (Mono) | 53°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Chimney Creek (Tulare) | 59°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Redding 12 WNW | 84°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Stovepipe Wells 1 SW | 97°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Yosemite Village 12 W | 63°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Fallbrook 5 NE | 82°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Santa Barbara 11 W | 79°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Merced 23 WSW | 73°F | 2026-09-30 |
Current 2-inch readings grouped along California's north-to-south axis. Regional spread matters for timing: the warm end of the state can open an application window a week or more before the cool end.
| Region | Avg 2" Temp | Range | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern California (Lassen, Mono, Shasta Counties) | 62°F | 45–84°F | 8 |
| Central California (Fresno, Inyo, Mono, San Benito, Tulare Counties) | 75°F | 59–97°F | 8 |
| Southern California (Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo Counties) | 77°F | 68–86°F | 8 |
Modeled estimate where no monitoring station is within 99 miles; all other readings are measured at USDA and NOAA stations.
Fall is the best time to overseed a thin lawn.
Fall is when broadleaf herbicide works hardest.
Apply winterizer when your 2-inch soil temperature falls through 50°F, typically late October to mid-November for cool-season lawns.
Time fall pre-emergent ahead of poa annua germination.
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across California is 71°F. Readings range from 45°F to 97°F depending on location and elevation, from 24 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across California is running 3°F above the seasonal normal of 68°F for early October, based on 24 of 24 stations with historical records.
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across California, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
California spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 11a, crossing from cool-season into warm-season grass country. For cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass), the fall window typically opens around October 8 and the spring window around March 22; for warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia), the window typically opens around May 11, based on historical 2-inch soil temperature averages at 24 in-state stations. Timing varies by location, so check your city's planting window for the dates specific to your area.