Edmonton, Alberta

Edmonton, Alberta53.5501, -113.4687

Mowing

When you can next cut it, and the best slot this weekend.

Best weekend slot

Nothing doing

Verdict: Not worth it

Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Conditions themselves are fine. And nothing else in the next 10 days either.

Next mow

Not in the next 10 days

Verdict: Not worth it

Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.02). Conditions themselves are fine.

  • Warning: Frost about. Monday 19 October has frosted hours. Stay off it until it lifts — walking on frosted grass bruises it, and mowing it ruptures the leaf. More
  • Worth watching: Growth has stalled. The lawn is hard and barely growing. Cutting it now takes more than it gives — leave it longer and wait for rain.

The next 10 days

Each row is a day, morning on the left. The more solid a block, the more of the forecast runs agree you can mow. Open a day for the hour-by-hour forecast behind it.

  1. Monday 19 October: nothing to cut. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.02). Conditions themselves are fine.
    Monday 19 October, hour by hour
    5am6am7am8am9am10am11ammidday1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm
    Chance————<5%<5%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%——
    Verdictnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growing
    Rainchance0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%
    Rainmm————————————————
    Grassdrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydry
    Groundfrozenfrozenfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirm
    Temp2°2°2°2°3°4°5°6°8°8°9°9°8°7°6°5°
    Windkm/h2221342234566435
    Daylight————✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓——

    Growth: barely growing (growth potential 0.02). Not enough to be worth cutting, which is why no hour is recommended today whatever the weather does.Chance is the share of 82 forecast runs — the same weather models re-run from slightly different starting conditions — in which you could have mowed that hour. The rows below it are what those runs expect on average, which is why an hour can look reasonable line by line and still fall short: the chance only counts runs where everything came together at once. Hover any cell for what the runs that ruled it out actually hit.

    Monday 19 OctoberConfident

    Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.02). Conditions themselves are fine.

    >95% nothing to cut. Every forecast run agrees.

    Nothing to cut. The odds below describe the weather only — growth decides whether a cut is wanted, and it is judged separately.

    Limiting factor:growth

  2. Tuesday 20 October: nothing to cut. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.01). Conditions themselves are fine.
    Tuesday 20 October, hour by hour
    5am6am7am8am9am10am11ammidday1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm
    Chance————<5%<5%<5%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%——
    Verdictnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growing
    Rainchance0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%
    Rainmm————————————————
    Grassdrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydry
    Groundfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirm
    Temp1°1°1°0°1°2°4°6°7°9°10°11°11°9°8°7°
    Windkm/h777678656679881012
    Daylight————✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓——

    Growth: barely growing (growth potential 0.01). Not enough to be worth cutting, which is why no hour is recommended today whatever the weather does.Chance is the share of 82 forecast runs — the same weather models re-run from slightly different starting conditions — in which you could have mowed that hour. The rows below it are what those runs expect on average, which is why an hour can look reasonable line by line and still fall short: the chance only counts runs where everything came together at once. Hover any cell for what the runs that ruled it out actually hit.

    Tuesday 20 OctoberConfident

    Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.01). Conditions themselves are fine.

    >95% nothing to cut. Every forecast run agrees.

    Nothing to cut. The odds below describe the weather only — growth decides whether a cut is wanted, and it is judged separately.

    Limiting factor:growth

  3. Wednesday 21 October: nothing to cut. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.02). Conditions themselves are fine.
    Wednesday 21 October, hour by hour
    5am6am7am8am9am10am11ammidday1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm
    Chance————<5%<5%<5%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%——
    Verdictnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growing
    Rainchance0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%
    Rainmm————————————————
    Grassdrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydry
    Groundfirmfirmfrozenfrozenfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirm
    Temp3°2°2°1°1°2°4°6°8°10°11°11°11°9°8°7°
    Windkm/h111099976434343223
    Daylight————✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓——

    Growth: barely growing (growth potential 0.02). Not enough to be worth cutting, which is why no hour is recommended today whatever the weather does.Chance is the share of 82 forecast runs — the same weather models re-run from slightly different starting conditions — in which you could have mowed that hour. The rows below it are what those runs expect on average, which is why an hour can look reasonable line by line and still fall short: the chance only counts runs where everything came together at once. Hover any cell for what the runs that ruled it out actually hit.

    Wednesday 21 OctoberConfident

    Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.02). Conditions themselves are fine.

    >95% nothing to cut. Every forecast run agrees.

    Nothing to cut. The odds below describe the weather only — growth decides whether a cut is wanted, and it is judged separately.

    Limiting factor:growth

  4. Thursday 22 October: nothing to cut. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.02). Conditions themselves are fine.
    Thursday 22 October, hour by hour
    5am6am7am8am9am10am11ammidday1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm
    Chance————<5%<5%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%>95%——
    Verdictnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growing
    Rainchance0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%1%
    Rainmm————————————————
    Grassdampdampwetsoakedsoakedsoakedwetdrydrydrydrydrydrydrydrydry
    Groundfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirm
    Temp1°1°0°0°1°3°5°7°9°10°11°11°10°9°8°7°
    Windkm/h344445312335791010
    Daylight————✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓——

    Growth: barely growing (growth potential 0.02). Not enough to be worth cutting, which is why no hour is recommended today whatever the weather does.Chance is the share of 82 forecast runs — the same weather models re-run from slightly different starting conditions — in which you could have mowed that hour. The rows below it are what those runs expect on average, which is why an hour can look reasonable line by line and still fall short: the chance only counts runs where everything came together at once. Hover any cell for what the runs that ruled it out actually hit.

    Thursday 22 OctoberConfident

    Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.02). Conditions themselves are fine.

    >95% nothing to cut. Every forecast run agrees.

    Nothing to cut. The odds below describe the weather only — growth decides whether a cut is wanted, and it is judged separately.

    Limiting factor:growth

  5. Friday 23 October: nothing to cut. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.01).
    Friday 23 October, hour by hour
    5am6am7am8am9am10am11ammidday1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm
    Chance————<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%——
    Verdictnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growing
    Rainchance8%6%9%22%25%19%28%18%21%20%33%25%20%33%19%24%
    Rainmm0.20.10.30.50.70.40.90.40.70.40.80.50.40.70.30.4
    Grassdampdampdampdampwetwetwetwetwetsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoaked
    Groundfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirm
    Temp4°4°4°4°4°4°4°4°4°4°4°4°4°3°3°3°
    Windkm/h88766810121417191918181920
    Daylight————✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓——

    Growth: barely growing (growth potential 0.01). Not enough to be worth cutting, which is why no hour is recommended today whatever the weather does.Chance is the share of 82 forecast runs — the same weather models re-run from slightly different starting conditions — in which you could have mowed that hour. The rows below it are what those runs expect on average, which is why an hour can look reasonable line by line and still fall short: the chance only counts runs where everything came together at once. Hover any cell for what the runs that ruled it out actually hit.

    Friday 23 OctoberReasonably confident

    Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.01).

    <5% nothing to cut. Almost every run found the grass barely growing.

    Nothing to cut. The odds below describe the weather only — growth decides whether a cut is wanted, and it is judged separately.

    Limiting factor:growth

  6. Saturday 24 October: nothing to cut. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Conditions themselves are fine.
    Saturday 24 October, hour by hour
    5am6am7am8am9am10am11ammidday1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm
    Chance————<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%——
    Verdictnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growing
    Rainchance10%15%8%8%19%13%8%12%12%10%9%10%4%14%6%13%
    Rainmm0.10.30.10.10.30.10.10.10.10.10.10.1—0.2—0.1
    Grasssoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedwetwetwetwetwetwetdampdampdamp
    Groundfirmfrozenfrozenfrozenfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirm
    Temp1°1°1°1°1°1°1°2°2°2°2°2°1°1°1°1°
    Windkm/h24252525252526262626252221201919
    Daylight————✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓——

    Growth: barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Not enough to be worth cutting, which is why no hour is recommended today whatever the weather does.Chance is the share of 82 forecast runs — the same weather models re-run from slightly different starting conditions — in which you could have mowed that hour. The rows below it are what those runs expect on average, which is why an hour can look reasonable line by line and still fall short: the chance only counts runs where everything came together at once. Hover any cell for what the runs that ruled it out actually hit.

    Saturday 24 OctoberReasonably confident

    Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Conditions themselves are fine.

    <5% nothing to cut. Almost every run found the grass barely growing.

    Nothing to cut. The odds below describe the weather only — growth decides whether a cut is wanted, and it is judged separately.

    Limiting factor:growth

  7. Sunday 25 October: nothing to cut. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00).
    Sunday 25 October, hour by hour
    5am6am7am8am9am10am11ammidday1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm
    Chance————<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%——
    Verdictnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growing
    Rainchance10%3%5%5%9%13%4%2%1%9%1%6%1%3%7%2%
    Rainmm0.1———0.10.1———0.1——————
    Grasswetdampwetdampwetdampdampdampdampdampdampdampdampdampdampdamp
    Groundfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozen
    Temp-1°-1°-1°-1°-1°-1°0°0°0°0°0°-1°-1°-1°-1°-1°
    Windkm/h1313121212111111109876665
    Daylight————✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓——

    Growth: barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Not enough to be worth cutting, which is why no hour is recommended today whatever the weather does.Chance is the share of 82 forecast runs — the same weather models re-run from slightly different starting conditions — in which you could have mowed that hour. The rows below it are what those runs expect on average, which is why an hour can look reasonable line by line and still fall short: the chance only counts runs where everything came together at once. Hover any cell for what the runs that ruled it out actually hit.

    Sunday 25 OctoberReasonably confident

    Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00).

    <5% nothing to cut. Almost every run found the grass barely growing.

    Nothing to cut. The odds below describe the weather only — growth decides whether a cut is wanted, and it is judged separately.

    Limiting factor:growth

  8. Monday 26 October: nothing to cut. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Conditions themselves are fine.
    Monday 26 October, hour by hour
    5am6am7am8am9am10am11ammidday1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm
    Chance————<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%——
    Verdictnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growing
    Rainchance9%5%7%4%5%2%10%5%5%3%9%4%8%4%2%3%
    Rainmm0.10.10.1—0.1—0.1—0.10.10.1—0.1———
    Grasswetwetwetwetwetdampdampdampdampdampdampdampdampdampdampdamp
    Groundfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozen
    Temp-3°-3°-2°-2°-1°0°0°1°1°1°1°1°1°1°1°0°
    Windkm/h10101011111111111010987665
    Daylight————✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓——

    Growth: barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Not enough to be worth cutting, which is why no hour is recommended today whatever the weather does.Chance is the share of 82 forecast runs — the same weather models re-run from slightly different starting conditions — in which you could have mowed that hour. The rows below it are what those runs expect on average, which is why an hour can look reasonable line by line and still fall short: the chance only counts runs where everything came together at once. Hover any cell for what the runs that ruled it out actually hit.

    Monday 26 OctoberReasonably confident

    Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Conditions themselves are fine.

    <5% nothing to cut. Almost every run found the grass barely growing.

    Nothing to cut. The odds below describe the weather only — growth decides whether a cut is wanted, and it is judged separately.

    Limiting factor:growth

  9. Tuesday 27 October: nothing to cut. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00).
    Tuesday 27 October, hour by hour
    5am6am7am8am9am10am11ammidday1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm
    Chance————<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%——
    Verdictnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growing
    Rainchance1%5%1%5%5%4%6%1%3%3%9%3%4%7%2%4%
    Rainmm————0.1—0.1———0.1————0.1
    Grasssoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedwetwetdampdampdampdampdampsoakedsoaked
    Groundfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfirmfrozenfrozen
    Temp-3°-3°-2°-2°0°1°2°2°2°2°2°1°1°0°0°0°
    Windkm/h2334567789101213141516
    Daylight————✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓——

    Growth: barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Not enough to be worth cutting, which is why no hour is recommended today whatever the weather does.Chance is the share of 82 forecast runs — the same weather models re-run from slightly different starting conditions — in which you could have mowed that hour. The rows below it are what those runs expect on average, which is why an hour can look reasonable line by line and still fall short: the chance only counts runs where everything came together at once. Hover any cell for what the runs that ruled it out actually hit.

    Tuesday 27 OctoberLow confidence this far out

    Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00).

    <5% nothing to cut. Almost every run found the grass barely growing.

    Nothing to cut. The odds below describe the weather only — growth decides whether a cut is wanted, and it is judged separately.

    Limiting factor:growth

  10. Wednesday 28 October: nothing to cut. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00).
    Wednesday 28 October, hour by hour
    5am6am7am8am9am10am11ammidday1pm2pm3pm4pm5pm6pm7pm8pm
    Chance————<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%<5%———
    Verdictnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingnothing to cut — the grass is barely growingAlready goneAlready goneAlready gone
    Rainchance6%7%6%7%8%7%6%8%7%6%6%8%11%···
    Rainmm0.10.10.10.10.10.10.10.10.1—0.10.10.1···
    Grasssoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoakedsoaked···
    Groundfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozenfrozen···
    Temp-2°-2°-2°-2°-2°-2°-2°-2°-2°-2°-2°-2°-2°···
    Windkm/h15141414141514141210999···
    Daylight————✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓✓···

    Growth: barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Not enough to be worth cutting, which is why no hour is recommended today whatever the weather does.Chance is the share of 82 forecast runs — the same weather models re-run from slightly different starting conditions — in which you could have mowed that hour. The rows below it are what those runs expect on average, which is why an hour can look reasonable line by line and still fall short: the chance only counts runs where everything came together at once. Hover any cell for what the runs that ruled it out actually hit.

    Wednesday 28 OctoberLow confidence this far out

    Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00).

    <5% nothing to cut. Almost every run found the grass barely growing.

    Nothing to cut. The odds below describe the weather only — growth decides whether a cut is wanted, and it is judged separately.

    Limiting factor:growth

good to go touch and go dark, frost or snow already goneFainter means fewer forecast runs agree.

How you feel about mowing

Sensible middle ground.

Petrol or battery. The baseline.

Growth

How fast it is growing, and when it will need cutting again.

2%Barely growing

Of the fastest this grass could grow. The turf-industry measure, from today's temperature and day length.

The lawn is barely growing, so it does not need cutting. Leave it — taking leaf off a sward that cannot replace it costs more than it gives.

Held back by both temperature and short days — 10.3 hours of daylight at 5°C.

Over the next 10 days
about 0mm of leaf
Next cut due
not within the next ten days

This only knows temperature and day length. Feeding, watering, shade and cutting height all move it, so treat it as a rough guide.

Worked out from the PACE Turf growth potential model and day length —how and why.

Seeding

Soil temperature at germination depth, and when the window opens.

Soil temperature in Edmonton, Alberta

3.4°C38°F

at 6cm — germination depth

Too cold to seed — 3.4°C at 6cm and not warming.

Cooling over the next 10 days.

An independent estimate from air temperature gives 6.6°C, 2.4°C away. Treat the figure as approximate.

Most cool-season lawns in the northern US and Canada are bluegrass, tall fescue, or a mix of the two. We assume that, and use 12.5°C as the seeding threshold.

Thresholds for every species

The differences are small. Ryegrass is the quickest off the mark; bluegrass is the slowest and wants the warmest soil. Everything else sits between.

Soil temperature at 6cm for reliable germination. Sources onthe method page.
SpeciesSoil neededDays to sprout
Perennial ryegrass8°C5–10
Red / chewings fescue8–10°C10–14
Tall fescuelikely yours10–12°C10–14
Browntop bentColonial bentgrass10–12°C14–21
Smooth-stalked meadow grassKentucky bluegrasslikely yours12–13°C14–28

Feeding

Why timing decides whether a feed does anything at all.

Coming in the app

Grass takes up nitrogen when it is growing. Feed a lawn that has stopped and most of it washes past the roots — which is why timing beats product choice.

Right now this lawn is not growing fast enough to make much use of a feed.

The app will work out the actual feeding windows for your lawn — along with weed control, scarifying and moss treatment — and tell you when they open without you having to check.

Why timing beats product choice

Edmonton, Alberta in detail

Soil temperature in Edmonton, Alberta is currently 3.4°C at 6cm, and falling about 4.1°C over the next 10 days. That depth matters because it is where grass seed sits and where roots start working, and it lags air temperature by days — which is why a warm afternoon here tells you very little on its own.

Lawns in this area are typically Kentucky bluegrass with tall fescue, the usual mix for cool-season lawns at this latitude. That blend needs the soil to hold above 12.5°C before seed germinates reliably. Too cold to seed — 3.4°C at 6cm and not warming.

None of the next 10 days are worth getting the mower out for. As for the weekend: nothing doing. Nothing to cut — the grass is barely growing (growth potential 0.00). Conditions themselves are fine. And nothing else in the next 10 days either.

Nothing in the current forecast for Edmonton opens a sensible window. The ground reads as firm after 2mm rain over the last week, fine (clay) soil, and that is usually what decides it at this time of year.

There is frost in the forecast for Edmonton, Alberta: Monday 19 October has hours cold enough to freeze the leaf. Stay off the grass until it lifts — mowing frosted turf ruptures the cells and the damage shows for weeks.

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Chances counted across 82 forecast runs from NCEP GEFS, 25km and ECMWF IFS ensemble, 25km. Forecast from Open-Meteo, refreshed through the day. Soil temperature is modelled, not measured — how that works and where the thresholds come from.