Zone 5a Club · Lawn Calendar
Zone 5a Lawn Calendar
Year-round timing tuned to Zone 5a's climate window.
Winter low
-20°F
Last frost
May 1
First frost
Oct 5
Season
155d
Primary Overseeding Window
Aug 25 → Sep 30
The single highest-leverage window for cool-season seed in Zone 5a.
Quarter
Spring in Zone 5a
- ▪Early-mid May: overseed winter damage
- ▪First mow at 4 inches; maintain 3 inches
- ▪0.75 lb N/1000 sqft early May
- ▪Pre-emergent at soil temp 55°F (late April–early May)
Quarter
Summer in Zone 5a
- ▪Mow at 3.5 inches
- ▪1–1.5" water per week; deep + infrequent
- ▪Skip July fert; consider Aug 1 spoon-feed if irrigated
- ▪Watch for brown patch on TTTF in July humidity
Quarter
Fall in Zone 5a
- ▪Primary overseeding: Aug 25 – Sep 30
- ▪1 lb N/1000 sqft early September
- ▪Aerate and overseed compacted areas
- ▪Final mow at 2.5 inches late October
Quarter
Winter in Zone 5a
- ▪Mostly dormant Dec–March
- ▪Light traffic OK on frozen turf; avoid ice damage
- ▪Order seed in late January
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