Why then
Warm-season lawns establish from seed in late spring, once soil has warmed well past the last frost — Bermuda and Zoysia seed germinates reliably only at soil temperatures around 65–70°F. The window is timed 2–4 weeks after the last frost; seeding much later still works but shortens the first growing season. (St. Augustine has no viable seed — it establishes from sod or plugs in the same window.)
Frequently asked questions
When should I overseed my lawn in Alabama?
Across Alabama's featured cities the window runs Mar 7 – Apr 21. Your own town can sit at either end of that range — use the city table on this page or the ZIP lookup for your exact dates.
Why do the dates vary within Alabama?
Because climate does. The dates here are calculated separately for each city from its own NOAA 1991–2020 frost records, and elevation, latitude, and terrain spread them across Alabama — the same task can be a week or two apart between towns. That local spread is exactly what generic national advice misses.
What if I miss the window?
You get a second-choice window on the opposite shoulder of the season (spring for cool-season lawns, later summer for warm-season) — results are usually a step down, but far better than working in the wrong season entirely.