The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Florida is 83°F. Readings range from 81°F to 86°F, from 5 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Florida is running 2°F above the seasonal normal of 82°F for mid-September, based on 5 of 5 stations with historical records. Florida spans USDA hardiness zones 8b to 11b, crossing from cool-season into warm-season grass country. Last updated September 14, 2026.
Soil across Florida is cooling off its summer peak at an average of 83°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.
For warm-season lawns (bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine), the best time to plant grass seed in Florida is once 2-inch soil reaches 65°F and keeps rising, with a full growing season ahead; soil that warm arrives early in the year here, and the window closes as soil cools back through 65°F, typically around November 29.
Soil across Florida stays above the cool-season minimum of 50°F year-round, so the warm-season band is the constraint that matters. For a green lawn through winter, some homeowners overseed with ryegrass; the winter overseeding guide covers that timing.
| Region | Typical planting window opens | Stations |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Florida | March 8 | 2 |
| Central Florida | February 6 | 2 |
Timing varies within Florida: your city page tracks the local window from its nearest station: see when to plant in Miami, when to plant in Orlando or when to plant in Tampa. Readings current through September 14, 2026: Florida averages 83°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 6 monitoring stations in Florida; your own window depends on your nearest station's readings.
Historical 2-inch soil temperature normals for Florida: the median across 6 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 | 66°F |
| February | 68°F |
| March | 72°F |
| April | 75°F |
| May | 80°F |
| June | 83°F |
| July | 85°F |
| August | 85°F |
| September | 82°F |
| October | 79°F |
| November | 72°F |
| December | 69°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 Florida. 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 Florida. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for Florida. For how wet the ground is versus normal, see soil moisture for Florida. See the Florida soil temperature map for the full station view.
Interpolated from the latest 4-inch readings and refreshed daily.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Wakulla #1 (Leon) | 81°F | 2026-09-14 |
| Sellers Lake #1 (Lake) | 82°F | 2026-09-14 |
| Everglades ARS (Miami-Dade) | 82°F | 2026-09-14 |
| Titusville 7 E | 86°F | 2026-09-14 |
| Everglades City 5 NE | 84°F | 2026-09-14 |
Current 2-inch readings grouped along Florida'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 Florida (Lake, Leon Counties) | 82°F | 81–82°F | 2 |
| Central Florida (Miami-Dade County) | 84°F | 82–86°F | 3 |
Modeled estimate where no monitoring station is within 99 miles; all other readings are measured at USDA and NOAA stations.
Fall is when broadleaf herbicide works hardest.
Apply fall pre-emergent when 2-inch soil falls back through 70°F and keeps declining; that crossing is when poa annua and winter annual weeds sprout.
Bermuda and zoysia go tan in winter.
Check whether your soil is warm enough for the seed you bought: cool-season grass seeds into 50-65°F soil (tall fescue prefers 60°F and up), warm-season into 75-85°F.
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Florida is 83°F. Readings range from 81°F to 86°F depending on location and elevation, from 5 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Florida is running 2°F above the seasonal normal of 82°F for mid-September, based on 5 of 5 stations with historical records.
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across Florida, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
Florida spans USDA hardiness zones 8b to 11b, crossing from cool-season into warm-season grass country. For warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia), the window typically opens around February 6, based on historical 2-inch soil temperature averages at 6 in-state stations. Timing varies by location, so check your city's planting window for the dates specific to your area.