The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Kansas is 70°F. Readings range from 68°F to 75°F, from 6 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Kansas is running 2°F above the seasonal normal of 68°F for early October, based on 6 of 6 stations with historical records. Kansas spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a, cool-season grass country. Last updated September 30, 2026.
Soil across Kansas is cooling off its summer peak at an average of 70°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.
Kansas 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 Kansas, 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 10.
Spring is the second choice: the window opens when soil first holds 50°F and narrows as soil passes 65°F, typically by May 14.
For warm-season lawns (bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine), the best time to plant grass seed in Kansas 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 6.
| Region | Typical spring window opens | Typical fall window opens | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kansas | April 11 | September 11 | 2 |
| Central Kansas | March 29 | October 5 | 2 |
| Western Kansas | April 11 | September 22 | 2 |
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 Wichita, when to plant in Topeka or when to plant in Kansas City. Readings current through September 30, 2026: Kansas averages 70°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 Kansas; your own window depends on your nearest station's readings.
Historical 2-inch soil temperature normals for Kansas: 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 | 35°F |
| February | 37°F |
| March | 46°F |
| April | 55°F |
| May | 64°F |
| June | 74°F |
| July | 79°F |
| August | 78°F |
| September | 71°F |
| October | 60°F |
| November | 48°F |
| December | 39°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 Kansas. 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 Kansas. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for Kansas. For how wet the ground is versus normal, see soil moisture for Kansas. See the Kansas soil temperature map for the full station view.
Interpolated from the latest 4-inch readings and refreshed daily.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Abrams (Cowley) | 75°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Phillipsburg (Phillips) | 68°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Centralia Lake (Nemaha) | 69°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Ku-Nesa (Jefferson) | 71°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Oakley 19 SSW | 68°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Manhattan 6 SSW | 71°F | 2026-09-30 |
Current 2-inch readings grouped along Kansas's east-to-west 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern Kansas (Jefferson, Nemaha Counties) | 70°F | 69–71°F | 2 |
| Central Kansas (Cowley County) | 73°F | 71–75°F | 2 |
| Western Kansas (Phillips County) | 68°F | 68–68°F | 2 |
| City | ZIP | Current Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Hutchinson | 67501 | 75°F |
| Kansas City | 66101 | 71°F |
| Kansas Lottery | 66652 | 71°F |
| Lawrence | 66044 | 71°F |
| Leawood | 66206 | 71°F |
| Lenexa | 66215 | 71°F |
| Liberal | 67901 | 72°F |
| Manhattan | 66502 | 71°F |
| Mission | 66201 | 71°F |
| Olathe | 66051 | 71°F |
| Overland Park | 66204 | 71°F |
| Salina | 67401 | 71°F |
| Shawnee | 66203 | 71°F |
| Shawnee Mission | 66250 | 71°F |
| Topeka | 66601 | 71°F |
| Wichita | 67201 | 75°F |
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 Kansas is 70°F. Readings range from 68°F to 75°F depending on location and elevation, from 6 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Kansas is running 2°F above the seasonal normal of 68°F for early October, based on 6 of 6 stations with historical records.
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across Kansas, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
Kansas spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a, cool-season grass country. For cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass), the fall window typically opens around September 11 and the spring window around March 29; for warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia), the window typically opens around May 14, 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.