Cool-season · fall window
For cool-season lawns (fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass), fall is the best time to plant grass seed in Massachusetts, with spring the second choice: fall seedlings face less weed competition and mature before summer heat.
Soil Temperature in Massachusetts
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Massachusetts is 74°F, from 1 USDA and NOAA monitoring station. Massachusetts spans USDA hardiness zones 5b to 7b, cool-season grass country. Last updated August 16, 2026.
Current Planting Conditions
Summer conditions across Massachusetts with soil averaging 74°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 Massachusetts
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 Boston, when to plant in Springfield or when to plant in Worcester. Readings current through August 16, 2026: Massachusetts averages 74°F at 2 inches right now; the Current Planting Conditions section above reads that number against the season.
Average Soil Temperature by Month in Massachusetts
Historical 2-inch soil temperature normals for Massachusetts: 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 | 32°F |
| February | 32°F |
| March | 40°F |
| April | 51°F |
| May | 61°F |
| June | 72°F |
| July | 79°F |
| August | 74°F |
| September | 68°F |
| October | 56°F |
| November | 44°F |
| December | 34°F |
Grass Seed Germination in Massachusetts
Grass seed germination
Grass seed germination temperatures across Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts (1)
For root-zone timing (fertilizer, aeration, weed control), see the 4-inch soil temperature for Massachusetts. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for Massachusetts. See the Massachusetts soil temperature map for the full station view.
Interpolated from the latest 4-inch readings and refreshed daily.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Blue Hill 0 W | 74°F | 2026-08-16 |
Cities in Massachusetts (62)
| City | ZIP | Current Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Amherst | 01002 | 59°F |
| Andover | 01810 | 74°F |
| Arlington | 02474 | 74°F |
| Billerica | 01821 | 74°F |
| Boston | 02108 | 74°F |
| Braintree | 02184 | 74°F |
| Bridgewater | 02324 | 74°F |
| Brockton | 02301 | 74°F |
| Brookline | 02445 | 74°F |
| Burlington | 01803 | 74°F |
| Buzzards Bay | 02532 | 74°F |
| Cambridge | 02138 | 74°F |
| Centerville | 02632 | 74°F |
| Chicopee | 01013 | 74°F |
| Dalton | 01226 | 59°F |
| Dedham | 02026 | 74°F |
| Dorchester | 02121 | 74°F |
| Duxbury | 02331 | 74°F |
| Fall River | 02720 | 74°F |
| Falmouth | 02540 | 74°F |
| Framingham | 01701 | 74°F |
| Gloucester | 01930 | 74°F |
| Greenfield | 01301 | 59°F |
| Groton | 01450 | 74°F |
| Hanover | 02339 | 74°F |
| Haverhill | 01830 | 68°F |
| Hingham | 02043 | 74°F |
| Holyoke | 01040 | 59°F |
| Lakeville | 02348 | 74°F |
| Lawrence | 01840 | 68°F |
| Lexington | 02420 | 74°F |
| Longmeadow | 01106 | 74°F |
| Lowell | 01850 | 74°F |
| Lynn | 01901 | 74°F |
| Mansfield | 02048 | 74°F |
| Medford | 02153 | 74°F |
| Middleboro | 02344 | 74°F |
| Nantucket | 02554 | 82°F* |
| New Bedford | 02740 | 74°F |
| North Attleboro | 02760 | 74°F |
| North Easton | 02356 | 74°F |
| North Reading | 01864 | 74°F |
| Northampton | 01060 | 59°F |
| Peabody | 01960 | 74°F |
| Pittsfield | 01201 | 59°F |
| Plymouth | 02360 | 74°F |
| Quincy | 02169 | 74°F |
| Salem | 01970 | 74°F |
| Shrewsbury | 01545 | 74°F |
| Somerset | 02725 | 74°F |
| Somerville | 02143 | 74°F |
| Springfield | 01101 | 74°F |
| Stockbridge | 01262 | 74°F |
| Taunton | 02780 | 74°F |
| Waltham | 02451 | 74°F |
| Watertown | 02471 | 74°F |
| West Springfield | 01089 | 74°F |
| Westborough | 01580 | 74°F |
| Westfield | 01085 | 74°F |
| Westminster | 01441 | 74°F |
| Woburn | 01801 | 74°F |
| Worcester | 01601 | 74°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 Massachusetts
- 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 Massachusetts
What is the current soil temperature in Massachusetts?
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Massachusetts is 74°F, from 1 USDA and NOAA monitoring station.
When should I apply pre-emergent in Massachusetts?
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across Massachusetts, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
When can I plant grass seed in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts spans USDA hardiness zones 5b to 7b, 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.