what temperature does grass stop growing
Grass growth generally slows way down and effectively stops when temperatures stay below about 50–55°F (10–13°C) or above about 90°F (32°C), depending on the grass type.
What Temperature Does Grass Stop Growing?
Quick Scoop
For lawn grasses, there isn’t one magic number, but a range where they essentially “call it quits” and go dormant rather than keep pushing out new blades.
- Most lawns slow sharply once temps are outside about 50–90°F.
- Cool-season grasses (like fescue, ryegrass, bluegrass) mostly stop growing below ~40°F and above ~75–85°F.
- Warm-season grasses (like Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine) generally stop growing below ~50–55°F , and can also stall if temps push past the mid‑90s to 100°F.
- When growth stops, the grass often turns tan or brown, but it’s usually just dormant , not dead.
Think of it like this: your lawn is “open for business” in its preferred temperature window, and as soon as it gets too cold or too hot, it flips the sign to “temporarily closed.”
Cool-Season vs Warm-Season Grasses
These two big categories respond differently to temperature.
Cool-season grasses
Typical types: Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue, fine fescue, perennial ryegrass.
- Grow best around 60–75°F.
- Growth slows a lot above ~75°F and generally stops above about 80–90°F depending on species.
- They can stay alive in cold, but stop growing below ~40°F.
Warm-season grasses
Typical types: Bermudagrass, Zoysiagrass, St. Augustinegrass, Bahiagrass, Centipedegrass, Buffalograss, Carpetgrass.
- Grow best roughly 75–95°F.
- Growth usually stops when temps drop below 50–55°F.
- Many will also slow or stall if temps rise above the low 90s–100°F , even though they tolerate heat better than cool‑season lawns.
Typical Temperature Ranges (Mini Table)
Below is a simplified look at when common lawn grass types stop growing.
| Grass type | Season type | Stops growing when too cold | Stops growing when too hot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tall / fine fescue | Cool-season | Below ~40–50°F | [7][1]Above ~86–90°F | [1][7]
| Perennial ryegrass | Cool-season | Below ~40°F | [7][1]Above ~80–86°F | [1][7]
| Bermudagrass | Warm-season | Below ~50°F | [7][1]Above ~95–100°F (slows) | [1][7]
| Zoysiagrass | Warm-season | Below ~50–55°F | [7][1]Above ~95°F (slows) | [1][7]
| St. Augustinegrass | Warm-season | Below ~55°F | [7][1]Above ~95–100°F (slows) | [1][7]
| General “mixed lawn” | Mixed | Below ~50–55°F | [3][5][7]Above ~90°F | [3][5][7]
Why It Matters for Mowing and Care
Knowing when grass stops growing helps you time your “last mow” and adjust care.
- Once daytime temps stay below ~50–55°F for several days , growth is close to zero and you can usually stop mowing.
- In summer, if temps sit above ~90°F and the lawn looks stressed, mowing less often and a bit higher helps avoid damage.
- Dormant grass (brown but firm, with intact crowns) usually greens up again when temps move back into its comfort zone.
Mini “Forum-Style” Take
“My mower schedule basically follows the thermometer. Once nights are in the 40s and days hover near 50, the lawn just pauses. In peak summer, once it’s sitting above 90°F for days, growth slows again and I stop chasing that ‘perfect’ cut until the weather backs off.”
SEO Bits (for your post draft)
- Main focus phrase to weave in naturally: “what temperature does grass stop growing”.
- Related helpful phrases: “grass dormancy temperature,” “cool-season vs warm-season grass,” “lawn care when grass stops growing.”
- A concise meta description idea:
- Wondering what temperature grass stops growing? Most lawns shut down growth below 50–55°F or above 90°F, with cool- and warm-season grasses reacting differently to heat and cold.
TL;DR: For most home lawns, grass stops growing once temperatures sit below about 50–55°F or above about 90°F , with exact thresholds depending on whether you have cool‑season or warm‑season grass.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
