The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Louisiana is 81°F. Readings range from 79°F to 83°F, from 2 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Louisiana is running 4°F above the seasonal normal of 77°F for early October, based on 2 of 2 stations with historical records. Louisiana spans USDA hardiness zones 8b to 9b, crossing from cool-season into warm-season grass country. Last updated September 30, 2026.
Soil across Louisiana is cooling off its summer peak at an average of 81°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 Louisiana 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 November 14.
Timing varies within Louisiana: your city page tracks the local window from its nearest station: see when to plant in New Orleans, when to plant in Baton Rouge or when to plant in Shreveport. Readings current through September 30, 2026: Louisiana averages 81°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 2 monitoring stations in Louisiana; your own window depends on your nearest station's readings.
Historical 2-inch soil temperature normals for Louisiana: the median across 2 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 | 56°F |
| February | 59°F |
| March | 65°F |
| April | 71°F |
| May | 78°F |
| June | 83°F |
| July | 86°F |
| August | 85°F |
| September | 82°F |
| October | 74°F |
| November | 66°F |
| December | 61°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 Louisiana. 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 Louisiana. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for Louisiana. For how wet the ground is versus normal, see soil moisture for Louisiana. See the Louisiana soil temperature map for the full station view.
Interpolated from the latest 4-inch readings and refreshed daily.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Lafayette 13 SE | 83°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Monroe 26 N | 79°F | 2026-09-30 |
| City | ZIP | Current Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Abbeville | 70510 | 83°F |
| Alexandria | 71301 | 83°F |
| Baker | 70704 | 83°F |
| Bastrop | 71220 | 79°F |
| Baton Rouge | 70801 | 83°F |
| Belle Chasse | 70037 | 79°F |
| Bogalusa | 70427 | 79°F |
| Bossier City | 71111 | 79°F |
| Chalmette | 70043 | 79°F |
| Covington | 70433 | 79°F |
| Crowley | 70526 | 83°F |
| Denham Springs | 70706 | 83°F |
| Gonzales | 70707 | 83°F |
| Gretna | 70053 | 79°F |
| Hammond | 70401 | 83°F |
| Harvey | 70058 | 79°F |
| Houma | 70360 | 83°F |
| Kenner | 70062 | 79°F |
| La Place | 70068 | 83°F |
| Lafayette | 70500 | 83°F |
| Lake Charles | 70601 | 82°F |
| Leesville | 71446 | 82°F |
| Mandeville | 70448 | 79°F |
| Marrero | 70072 | 79°F |
| Metairie | 70001 | 79°F |
| Minden | 71055 | 79°F |
| Monroe | 71201 | 79°F |
| Morgan City | 70380 | 83°F |
| Natchitoches | 71457 | 79°F |
| New Iberia | 70560 | 83°F |
| New Orleans | 70112 | 79°F |
| Opelousas | 70570 | 83°F |
| Pineville | 71359 | 83°F |
| Plaquemine | 70764 | 83°F |
| Ruston | 71270 | 79°F |
| Shreveport | 71101 | 79°F |
| Slidell | 70458 | 79°F |
| Sulphur | 70663 | 82°F |
| Tallulah | 71282 | 78°F |
| Thibodaux | 70301 | 83°F |
| West Monroe | 71291 | 79°F |
| Westwego | 70094 | 79°F |
Time fall pre-emergent ahead of poa annua germination.
Fall is when broadleaf herbicide works hardest.
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 Louisiana is 81°F. Readings range from 79°F to 83°F depending on location and elevation, from 2 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Louisiana is running 4°F above the seasonal normal of 77°F for early October, based on 2 of 2 stations with historical records.
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across Louisiana, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
Louisiana spans USDA hardiness zones 8b to 9b, crossing from cool-season into warm-season grass country. For warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia), the window typically opens around March 31, based on historical 2-inch soil temperature averages at 2 in-state stations. Timing varies by location, so check your city's planting window for the dates specific to your area.