Cool-season · fall window
For cool-season lawns (fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass), fall is the best time to plant grass seed in Maryland, with spring the second choice: fall seedlings face less weed competition and mature before summer heat.
Soil Temperature in Maryland
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Maryland is 76°F, from 1 USDA and NOAA monitoring station. Maryland spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8a, cool-season grass country. Last updated August 16, 2026.
Current Planting Conditions
Summer conditions across Maryland with soil averaging 76°F at 2 inches. Warm-season grasses are in peak growth; keep cool-season lawns mowed high and watered deep. The next application windows arrive in fall, starting with pre-emergent as soil falls back through 70°F.
Best Time to Plant Grass Seed in Maryland
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 Baltimore, when to plant in Silver Spring or when to plant in Bethesda. Readings current through August 16, 2026: Maryland averages 76°F at 2 inches right now; the Current Planting Conditions section above reads that number against the season.
Average Soil Temperature by Month in Maryland
Historical 2-inch soil temperature normals for Maryland: the median across 1 in-state station 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 | 39°F |
| February | 40°F |
| March | 47°F |
| April | 55°F |
| May | 62°F |
| June | 70°F |
| July | 76°F |
| August | 75°F |
| September | 69°F |
| October | 60°F |
| November | 50°F |
| December | 42°F |
Grass Seed Germination in Maryland
Grass seed germination
Grass seed germination temperatures across Maryland. 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 | 50–65°F | 14-30 |
| Tall fescue | 50–65°F | 7-12 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 50–65°F | 5-10 |
| Fine fescue | 50–65°F | 7-14 |
| Bermudagrass | 75–90°F | 10-30 |
Monitoring Stations in Maryland (1)
For root-zone timing (fertilizer, aeration, weed control), see the 4-inch soil temperature for Maryland. For how wet the ground is versus normal, see soil moisture for Maryland. See the Maryland soil temperature map for the full station view.
Interpolated from the latest 4-inch readings and refreshed daily.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Powder Mill (Prince George's) | 76°F | 2026-08-16 |
Cities in Maryland (51)
| City | ZIP | Current Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Annapolis | 21401 | 76°F |
| Baltimore | 21201 | 76°F |
| Bel Air | 21014 | 74°F |
| Beltsville | 20704 | 76°F |
| Bethesda | 20810 | 76°F |
| Bowie | 20715 | 76°F |
| Capitol Heights | 20731 | 76°F |
| Chestertown | 21620 | 76°F |
| Chevy Chase | 20815 | 76°F |
| College Park | 20740 | 76°F |
| Columbia | 21044 | 76°F |
| Cumberland | 21501 | 68°F |
| District Heights | 20747 | 76°F |
| Easton | 21601 | 76°F |
| Elkton | 21921 | 74°F |
| Ellicott City | 21041 | 76°F |
| Essex | 21221 | 76°F |
| Fort Washington | 20744 | 76°F |
| Frederick | 21701 | 76°F |
| Gaithersburg | 20877 | 76°F |
| Germantown | 20874 | 76°F |
| Glen Burnie | 21060 | 76°F |
| Greenbelt | 20768 | 76°F |
| Hagerstown | 21740 | 76°F |
| Hanover | 21076 | 76°F |
| Hunt Valley | 21031 | 76°F |
| Hyattsville | 20781 | 76°F |
| Kensington | 20891 | 76°F |
| Lanham | 20703 | 76°F |
| Laurel | 20707 | 76°F |
| Lutherville Timonium | 21093 | 76°F |
| Nationwide Fulfill Systems | 21681 | 76°F |
| Ocean City | 21842 | 85°F* |
| Olney | 20830 | 76°F |
| Oxon Hill | 20745 | 76°F |
| Pasadena | 21122 | 76°F |
| Potomac | 20854 | 76°F |
| Ridgely | 21660 | 76°F |
| Riverdale | 20737 | 76°F |
| Rockville | 20847 | 76°F |
| Salisbury | 21801 | 86°F* |
| Silver Spring | 20901 | 76°F |
| Southern Md Facility | 20697 | 76°F |
| Suitland | 20746 | 76°F |
| Takoma Park | 20912 | 76°F |
| Temple Hills | 20748 | 76°F |
| Towson | 21204 | 76°F |
| Upper Marlboro | 20772 | 76°F |
| Waldorf | 20601 | 76°F |
| Westminster | 21157 | 76°F |
| Westover | 21871 | 81°F |
Modeled estimate where no monitoring station is within 75 miles; all other readings are measured at USDA and NOAA stations.
Lawn Care Timing Guides for Maryland
- When to Overseed Your Lawn in Fall: The 60-70°F Soil Window
Fall is the best time to overseed a thin lawn.
- When to Aerate Your Lawn by Grass Type and Soil Temperature
Core aeration relieves compaction, but timing decides whether the lawn recovers in a week or struggles for a month.
- Lawn Fungus by Temperature: Brown Patch, Dollar Spot, Rust
Brown patch and Pythium strike when humid nights hold above 68°F on lush, over-fertilized turf; dollar spot, red thread, and rust hit slow-growing lawns at 60-85°F.
- Grass Seed Germination Soil Temperature: What Each Species Needs
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.
Soil Temperature FAQ for Maryland
What is the current soil temperature in Maryland?
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Maryland is 76°F, from 1 USDA and NOAA monitoring station.
When should I apply pre-emergent in Maryland?
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across Maryland, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
When can I plant grass seed in Maryland?
Maryland spans USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8a, cool-season grass country. Cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass) can be seeded when soil holds between 50 and 65°F. Warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia) need soil above 65°F. Timing varies by location, so check your city's planting window for the dates specific to your area.