Soil Temperature in New York
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across New York is 82°F, based on 2 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Readings range from 73°F to 91°F. Last updated July 2, 2026.
Current Planting Conditions
Summer conditions across New York with soil averaging 82°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.
Grass Seed Germination in New York
Grass seed germination
Grass seed germination temperatures across New York. Soil warmth varies by location, so check a city page for the live reading and what germinates there now.
| Grass species | Germination optimum | Days |
|---|---|---|
| Kentucky bluegrass | 59–86°F | 14-30 |
| Tall fescue | 68–86°F | 7-12 |
| Perennial ryegrass | 68–86°F | 5-10 |
| Fine fescue | 59–77°F | 7-14 |
| Bermudagrass | 75–85°F | 10-30 |
Monitoring Stations in New York (2)
For root-zone timing (fertilizer, aeration, weed control), see the 4-inch soil temperature for New York. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for New York. See the New York soil temperature map for the full station view.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Millbrook 3 W | 91°F | 2026-07-02 |
| Ithaca 13 E | 73°F | 2026-07-02 |
Cities in New York (79)
| City | ZIP | Current Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Albany | 12201 | 65°F |
| Amityville | 11701 | 91°F* |
| Astoria | 11102 | 91°F |
| Auburn | 13021 | 73°F |
| Batavia | 14020 | 76°F* |
| Bayside | 11359 | 91°F |
| Binghamton | 13901 | 73°F |
| Bronx | 10451 | 91°F |
| Brooklyn | 11201 | 97°F* |
| Buffalo | 14201 | 80°F* |
| Copake | 12516 | 91°F |
| Corning | 14830 | 73°F |
| Croton On Hudson | 10520 | 91°F |
| East Elmhurst | 11369 | 91°F |
| Eastern States Bkcard Assoc | 11044 | 91°F |
| Elmhurst | 11373 | 91°F |
| Elmira | 14901 | 73°F |
| Endicott | 13760 | 73°F |
| Far Rockaway | 11690 | 96°F* |
| Farmingdale | 11735 | 91°F |
| Floral Park | 11001 | 91°F |
| Flushing | 11351 | 91°F |
| Fresh Meadows | 11365 | 91°F |
| Garden City | 11530 | 91°F |
| Great Neck | 11020 | 91°F |
| Hempstead | 11549 | 91°F |
| Hicksville | 11801 | 91°F |
| Holtsville | 11742 | 86°F* |
| Islandia | 11749 | 91°F |
| Ithaca | 14850 | 73°F |
| Jamaica | 11405 | 99°F* |
| Jamestown | 14701 | 76°F* |
| Jericho | 11753 | 91°F |
| Keeseville | 12911 | 61°F |
| Kingston | 12401 | 91°F |
| Little Neck | 11362 | 91°F |
| Liverpool | 13088 | 73°F |
| Lockport | 14094 | 75°F* |
| Long Island City | 11101 | 91°F |
| Lyon Mountain | 12952 | 61°F |
| Melville | 11747 | 91°F |
| Middletown | 10940 | 91°F |
| Monroe | 10949 | 91°F |
| Mount Vernon | 10550 | 91°F |
| New Hyde Park | 11040 | 91°F |
| New Rochelle | 10801 | 91°F |
| New York | 10001 | 91°F |
| Newburgh | 12550 | 91°F |
| Newcomb | 12852 | 72°F* |
| Niagara Falls | 14301 | 76°F* |
| Ozone Park | 11416 | 99°F* |
| Plattsburgh | 12901 | 61°F |
| Pleasantville | 10570 | 91°F |
| Port Washington | 11050 | 91°F |
| Potsdam | 13676 | 74°F* |
| Poughkeepsie | 12601 | 91°F |
| Queens Village | 11427 | 91°F |
| Ridgewood | 11385 | 97°F* |
| Rochester | 14602 | 76°F* |
| Rockville Centre | 11570 | 91°F* |
| Rome | 13440 | 73°F |
| Schenectady | 12301 | 65°F |
| Southampton | 11968 | 73°F |
| Staten Island | 10301 | 93°F* |
| Stephentown | 12168 | 65°F |
| Stony Brook | 11790 | 91°F |
| Syosset | 11773 | 91°F |
| Syracuse | 13201 | 73°F |
| Tonawanda | 14150 | 78°F* |
| Troy | 12180 | 65°F |
| Uniondale | 11553 | 91°F* |
| Utica | 13501 | 73°F |
| Valley Stream | 11580 | 96°F* |
| Vestal | 13850 | 73°F |
| Watertown | 13601 | 73°F* |
| West Babylon | 11704 | 91°F* |
| West Point | 10996 | 91°F |
| White Plains | 10601 | 91°F |
| Yonkers | 10701 | 91°F |
Modeled estimate from Open-Meteo where no monitoring station is within 75 miles; all other readings are measured at USDA and NOAA stations.
Lawn Care Timing Guides for New York
- Summer Lawn Dormancy: Keep Cool-Season Grass Alive in Heat
Cool-season grass slows once 2-inch soil sustains 75°F and goes dormant near 85°F.
- When to Apply Grub Control: The 65-70°F Soil Window
Apply preventive grub control (chlorantraniliprole or imidacloprid) before eggs hatch, when 2-4 inch soil holds 65-70°F: late June through July in most regions.
- Lawn Fungus by Temperature: Brown Patch, Dollar Spot & More
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 by Species
The soil temperature each grass species needs to germinate, from 15+ university extensions: tall fescue and perennial ryegrass 68-86°F, Kentucky bluegrass 59-86°F, fine fescue 59-77°F, cool-season 50°F trigger, warm-season 65°F.
Soil Temperature FAQ for New York
What is the current soil temperature in New York?
The current average 2-inch soil temperature across New York is 82°F, based on 2 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Readings range from 73°F to 91°F depending on location and elevation.
When should I apply pre-emergent in New York?
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across New York, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
When can I plant grass seed in New York?
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.