The current average 2-inch soil temperature across Ohio is 65°F. Readings range from 64°F to 65°F, from 2 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Ohio is right at the seasonal normal of 64°F for early October, based on 2 of 2 stations with historical records. Ohio spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a, cool-season grass country. Last updated September 30, 2026.
Soil across Ohio is cooling off its summer peak at an average of 65°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 cool-season lawns (fescue, bluegrass, ryegrass), fall is the best time to plant grass seed in Ohio, 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 11.
Spring is the second choice: the window opens when soil first holds 50°F and narrows as soil passes 65°F, typically by June 12.
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 Cincinnati, when to plant in Dayton or when to plant in Columbus. Readings current through September 30, 2026: Ohio averages 65°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 Ohio; your own window depends on your nearest station's readings.
Historical 2-inch soil temperature normals for Ohio: 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 | 36°F |
| February | 36°F |
| March | 44°F |
| April | 52°F |
| May | 60°F |
| June | 70°F |
| July | 75°F |
| August | 72°F |
| September | 67°F |
| October | 59°F |
| November | 47°F |
| December | 40°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 Ohio. 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 Ohio. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for Ohio. For how wet the ground is versus normal, see soil moisture for Ohio. See the Ohio soil temperature map for the full station view.
Interpolated from the latest 4-inch readings and refreshed daily.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Molly Caren #1 (Madison) | 65°F | 2026-09-30 |
| Wooster 3 SSE | 64°F | 2026-09-30 |
| City | ZIP | Current Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Akron | 44301 | 64°F |
| Ashtabula | 44004 | 64°F |
| Bowling Green | 43402 | 65°F* |
| Canton | 44701 | 64°F |
| Chagrin Falls | 44022 | 64°F |
| Cincinnati | 45201 | 65°F |
| Cleveland | 44101 | 64°F |
| Columbus | 43085 | 65°F |
| Cuyahoga Falls | 44221 | 64°F |
| Dayton | 45400 | 65°F |
| Dublin | 43016 | 65°F |
| Eastlake | 44095 | 64°F |
| Elyria | 44035 | 64°F |
| Euclid | 44117 | 64°F |
| Fairfield | 45014 | 65°F |
| Findlay | 45839 | 65°F |
| Groveport | 43125 | 65°F |
| Hamilton | 45011 | 65°F |
| Hebron | 43025 | 65°F |
| Hudson | 44236 | 64°F |
| Kent | 44240 | 64°F |
| Lima | 45801 | 65°F |
| Lockbourne | 43137 | 65°F |
| Lorain | 44052 | 64°F |
| Lucasville | 45648 | 65°F |
| Mansfield | 44901 | 64°F |
| Marion | 43301 | 65°F |
| Marysville | 43040 | 65°F |
| Massillon | 44646 | 64°F |
| Medina | 44256 | 64°F |
| Mentor | 44060 | 64°F |
| Miamisburg | 45342 | 65°F |
| Middletown | 45042 | 65°F |
| Newark | 43055 | 64°F |
| Novelty | 44072 | 64°F |
| Oregon | 43616 | 65°F* |
| Perrysburg | 43551 | 66°F* |
| Reynoldsburg | 43068 | 65°F |
| Sandusky | 44870 | 64°F |
| Sidney | 45365 | 65°F |
| Springfield | 45501 | 65°F |
| Steubenville | 43952 | 64°F |
| Strongsville | 44136 | 64°F |
| Toledo | 43601 | 65°F* |
| Troy | 45373 | 65°F |
| Wadsworth | 44281 | 64°F |
| Warren | 44481 | 64°F |
| West Chester | 45069 | 65°F |
| Westerville | 43081 | 65°F |
| Willard | 44888 | 64°F |
| Willoughby | 44094 | 64°F |
| Youngstown | 44501 | 64°F |
| Zanesville | 43701 | 64°F |
Modeled estimate where no monitoring station is within 99 miles; all other readings are measured at USDA and NOAA stations.
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.
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 Ohio is 65°F. Readings range from 64°F to 65°F depending on location and elevation, from 2 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across Ohio is right at the seasonal normal of 64°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 Ohio, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
Ohio spans USDA hardiness zones 6a to 7a, cool-season grass country. For cool-season grasses (fescue, bluegrass), the fall window typically opens around August 26 and the spring window around April 13, 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.