The current average 2-inch soil temperature across South Carolina is 84°F. Readings range from 82°F to 86°F, from 4 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across South Carolina is running 3°F above the seasonal normal of 81°F for mid-August, based on 4 of 4 stations with historical records. South Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 8a to 9b, crossing from cool-season into warm-season grass country. Last updated August 16, 2026.
Summer conditions across South Carolina with soil averaging 84°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.
For warm-season lawns (bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine), the best time to plant grass seed in South Carolina 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 October 18.
| Region | Typical planting window opens | Stations |
|---|---|---|
| Eastern South Carolina | April 14 | 2 |
| Central South Carolina | April 14 | 2 |
Timing varies within South Carolina: your city page tracks the local window from its nearest station: see when to plant in Columbia, when to plant in Greenville or when to plant in Charleston. Readings current through August 16, 2026: South Carolina averages 84°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 4 monitoring stations in South Carolina; your own window depends on your nearest station's readings.
Historical 2-inch soil temperature normals for South Carolina: the median across 4 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 | 49°F |
| February | 52°F |
| March | 59°F |
| April | 66°F |
| May | 73°F |
| June | 80°F |
| July | 83°F |
| August | 81°F |
| September | 77°F |
| October | 67°F |
| November | 59°F |
| December | 53°F |
Grass seed germination
Grass seed germination temperatures across South Carolina. 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 |
For root-zone timing (fertilizer, aeration, weed control), see the 4-inch soil temperature for South Carolina. For accumulated-heat timing, see growing degree days for South Carolina. For how wet the ground is versus normal, see soil moisture for South Carolina. See the South Carolina soil temperature map for the full station view.
Interpolated from the latest 4-inch readings and refreshed daily.
| Station | 2" Temp | Last Reading |
|---|---|---|
| Pee Dee (Darlington) | 82°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Youmans Farm (Hampton) | 85°F | 2026-08-16 |
| McClellanville 7 NE | 86°F | 2026-08-16 |
| Blackville 3 W | 83°F | 2026-08-16 |
Current 2-inch readings grouped along South Carolina's east-to-west axis. Regional spread matters for timing: the warm end of the state can open an application window a week or more before the cool end.
| Region | Avg 2" Temp | Range | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern South Carolina (Darlington County) | 84°F | 82–86°F | 2 |
| Central South Carolina (Hampton County) | 84°F | 83–85°F | 2 |
| City | ZIP | Current Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Aiken | 29801 | 83°F |
| Anderson | 29621 | 37°F |
| Beaufort | 29901 | 85°F |
| Boiling Springs | 29316 | 37°F |
| Camden | 29020 | 82°F |
| Charleston | 29401 | 86°F |
| Clemson | 29631 | 37°F |
| Columbia | 29201 | 83°F |
| Conway | 29526 | 82°F |
| Darlington | 29532 | 82°F |
| Duncan | 29334 | 37°F |
| Easley | 29640 | 37°F |
| Florence | 29501 | 82°F |
| Fort Mill | 29707 | 87°F* |
| Gaffney | 29340 | 37°F |
| Georgetown | 29440 | 86°F |
| Greenville | 29601 | 37°F |
| Greenwood | 29646 | 83°F |
| Greer | 29650 | 37°F |
| Hartsville | 29550 | 82°F |
| Hilton Head Island | 29925 | 85°F |
| Hodges | 29653 | 82°F |
| Johns Island | 29455 | 86°F |
| Jonesville | 29353 | 37°F |
| Lancaster | 29720 | 82°F |
| Lexington | 29071 | 83°F |
| Mc Cormick | 29835 | 89°F |
| Mount Pleasant | 29464 | 86°F |
| Myrtle Beach | 29572 | 86°F |
| North Augusta | 29841 | 83°F |
| North Charleston | 29405 | 86°F |
| North Myrtle Beach | 29582 | 86°F |
| Orangeburg | 29115 | 83°F |
| Rock Hill | 29730 | 85°F* |
| Seneca | 29672 | 37°F |
| Simpsonville | 29680 | 37°F |
| Spartanburg | 29301 | 37°F |
| Summerville | 29483 | 86°F |
| Sumter | 29150 | 82°F |
| West Columbia | 29169 | 83°F |
Modeled estimate where no monitoring station is within 75 miles; all other readings are measured at USDA and NOAA stations.
Spring broadleaf timing for St.
Nutsedge is a sedge, not a grass, which is why standard weed control fails.
Learn how to mix, calibrate, and spray liquid pre-emergent herbicide.
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 South Carolina is 84°F. Readings range from 82°F to 86°F depending on location and elevation, from 4 USDA and NOAA monitoring stations. Soil across South Carolina is running 3°F above the seasonal normal of 81°F for mid-August, based on 4 of 4 stations with historical records.
Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil at 2 inches reaches 55°F for several consecutive days. Timing varies across South Carolina, so check your city's page for station-specific readings and the pre-emergent timing recommendation.
South Carolina spans USDA hardiness zones 8a to 9b, crossing from cool-season into warm-season grass country. For warm-season grasses (bermuda, zoysia), the window typically opens around April 14, based on historical 2-inch soil temperature averages at 4 in-state stations. Timing varies by location, so check your city's planting window for the dates specific to your area.