# Lawn care calendar for New York: when to fertilize and seed > New York lawn calendar: feed in September, seed mid-August to September, and follow the winter fertilizer ban. NOAA frost dates for NYC, Buffalo, Albany. Canonical: https://lucernel.com/guides/lawn-care-calendar/new-york Last updated: 2026-10-07 New York lawns are cool-season grasses, and the state has a fertilizer law with a fixed winter ban. Cornell's turfgrass program ranks September as the best month to feed and mid-August to September as the best time to seed, so the plan below is built around late summer. **Feed in September, seed from mid-August through September, and stop by December 1.** Cornell's turfgrass program names September as the best time to apply nitrogen to a New York lawn, with an optional May feeding for lawns that see more use. The middle of August through September is the most favorable time to seed. State law bars lawn fertilizer from December 1 to April 1, from November 1 in Suffolk County and from November 15 in Nassau County. (Cornell Turfgrass Program) | Month | Cool-season lawns | Rules and signs | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Dormant; brown blades are usually not dead | No fertilizer from December 1 to April 1 | | February | Dormant; have the mower tuned and the blade sharpened | Fertilizer is most likely to run off frozen ground | | March | Plan a soil test; results take 1 to 2 weeks | No fertilizer before April 1 | | April | Roots start growing before the blades green up | Fertilizer is allowed again after April 1 | | May | Optional second feeding for lawns with more traffic | Mow about every 5 days in the spring flush | | June | Mow at 3 to 3.5 inches; most lawns need no feeding | Highest-quality lawns may take a June feeding | | July | Mow every 7 to 14 days, or not at all in drought | No more than 1 inch of water a week | | August | From mid-August: seed or renovate | Test the soil first | | September | Best month to feed and to seed | 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet at most | | October | Late-season feeding only for intensively managed lawns | Top growth continues until daily temperatures stay below 50 F | | November | Chop leaves into the lawn with a sharp mower | Feeding ends November 1 in Suffolk and November 15 in Nassau | | December | Dormant | The fertilizer ban starts December 1 | Dates shift with the weather; follow the signs in the text. ## Which grasses grow where in New York Cornell says that in New York and areas with similar conditions, most lawns are a mixture of cool-season grasses and weeds. Roots begin growing in spring before the blades green up, top growth flushes in cool, moist weather, slows in summer heat and returns in fall. Top growth continues until the average daily temperature stays below 50 F, and roots keep growing through the winter until the soil freezes. Brown grass in summer or winter is usually dormant, not dead. For a bare spot, Cornell suggests a perennial ryegrass seed mixture. ## Frost dates from NOAA Dates are the NOAA 1991-2020 normals for the last spring and first fall 32 F freeze at 50% probability. At New York City (Central Park) the average last spring frost is March 30 and the average first fall frost is November 20. At Buffalo the dates are April 24 and October 26, and at Albany Airport April 27 and October 15. Between Central Park and Albany the last spring frost is four weeks apart on these averages (computed from the dates). ## Spring Cornell's advice for spring is to do less. If the lawn is thick with vigorous grass, skip the spring feeding, because soil nutrients, clippings and a late-season feeding supply enough. Mow often enough to avoid clumps of clippings, which can mean every 5 days in the spring flush, and keep the blade sharp. The state law covers the practical details. Use a drop spreader or one with a shield, keep fertilizer 20 feet from water, sweep spills off pavement and skip the job if heavy rain is expected within 2 days. ## Summer Cool-season grass slows in summer heat and may turn brown, but drought rarely kills it. Cornell says most lawns survive on a fraction of an inch of water over a 3-week period. If you water, apply no more than 1 inch a week in the morning, slowly enough that nothing runs off. Mow at 3 to 3.5 inches, since shorter lawns need more fertilizer and water. Mow every 7 to 14 days in the rest of the growing season and not at all during a summer drought. ## Fall Fall is the main season. Plant from the middle of August through September, when cooler temperatures, moisture and less weed competition help seedlings. Spread seed in two directions at half the label rate, rake it in no deeper than 1/8 inch and keep the surface moist. About 2 to 3 weeks after seedlings emerge, apply 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet, and wait until the grass reaches at least 4 inches before the first mowing. Overseeding thin lawns works best after core aeration. ## Cornell Cooperative Extension and soil testing The Cornell Turfgrass Program publishes the lawn guide and sends soil testing questions to your local Cornell Cooperative Extension office. Collect 10 to 20 subsamples at a steady depth, dry them and send them to a testing lab. Results take 1 to 2 weeks. Keep the soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5, and use lime only if a test shows a pH of 6.0 or lower. ## Frequently asked questions ### When should I fertilize my lawn in New York? September is the best month. Add a May feeding for lawns with more traffic. State law bans lawn fertilizer from December 1 to April 1, and from November 1 in Suffolk County and November 15 in Nassau County. ### When should I seed grass in New York? From the middle of August through September. Cooler weather, moisture and fewer weeds favor new grass, and the seedlings have time to root before winter. ### How much nitrogen can I apply at once in New York? No more than 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet in one application. Returning clippings can cut nitrogen needs by 25 to 50 percent. ### Should I fertilize my New York lawn in spring? Not always. If the lawn is thick and vigorous, Cornell says to skip the spring feeding. If you do feed, wait until after April 1 and stay 20 feet from any water body. ### Can Lawnzo help me follow a New York lawn schedule? Lawnzo, a lawn-care planner for iPhone, builds a seasonal plan from your grass, sun and irrigation, checks each task against the forecast and shows why it keeps, delays or skips a job. Its journal records products and photos. ## Sources (checked 2026-10-01) - [Cornell Turfgrass Program (home and lawn care index)](https://turf.cals.cornell.edu/) - [Cornell Turfgrass Program, Feeding](https://turf.cals.cornell.edu/lawn/lawn-care-the-easiest-steps-to-an-attractive-environmental-asset/advanced-care/feeding/) - [Cornell Turfgrass Program, Know Your Lawn](https://turf.cals.cornell.edu/lawn/lawn-care-the-easiest-steps-to-an-attractive-environmental-asset/four-steps-to-success/know-your-lawn/) - [Cornell Turfgrass Program, Do Less](https://turf.cals.cornell.edu/lawn/lawn-care-the-easiest-steps-to-an-attractive-environmental-asset/four-steps-to-success/do-less/) - [Cornell Turfgrass Program, Make Adjustments](https://turf.cals.cornell.edu/lawn/lawn-care-the-easiest-steps-to-an-attractive-environmental-asset/four-steps-to-success/make-adjustments/) - [Cornell Turfgrass Program, Plan Ahead](https://turf.cals.cornell.edu/lawn/lawn-care-the-easiest-steps-to-an-attractive-environmental-asset/starting-fresh/plan-ahead/) - [Cornell Turfgrass Program, Plant](https://turf.cals.cornell.edu/lawn/lawn-care-the-easiest-steps-to-an-attractive-environmental-asset/starting-fresh/plant/) - [Cornell Turfgrass Program, Weeds](https://turf.cals.cornell.edu/lawn/lawn-care-the-easiest-steps-to-an-attractive-environmental-asset/advanced-care/weeds/) - [NOAA NCEI 1991-2020 normals: frost dates for New York City, Buffalo and Albany (API query)](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-annualseasonal-1991-2020&stations=USW00094728,USW00014733,USW00014735&dataTypes=ANN-TMIN-PRBLST-T32FP50,ANN-TMIN-PRBFST-T32FP50&format=json) - [NOAA NCEI, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (product page)](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/land-based-station/us-climate-normals) - [NOAA NCEI, station inventory (GHCN-Daily station list)](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/pub/data/ghcn/daily/ghcnd-stations.txt)