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Lawn Seeding Weather in California: Best Months by City

Lawn Seeding season in California, city by city: peak months, season boundaries, and annual workable-day counts from NOAA 1991–2020 normals. Los Angeles leads with 366 workable days a year; Lancaster runs the shortest at 143.

Across California's 118 listed cities, annual workable days for lawn seeding run from 143 (Lancaster) up to 366 (Los Angeles). Every number comes from NOAA 1991–2020 normals scored against the same label ruleset; every city name links to its live 10-day check.

Statewide, March is the strongest month — it tops or ties the table in most listed cities. The live strips on each city page decide the week; this table decides the month. Scoring rules: methodology; the national playbook: the lawn seeding guide.

Cities in California

Peak months and season boundaries from NOAA 1991–2020 normals; season = months with at least 8 workable days.
CityPeak monthsSeasonWorkable days/yr
Los Angeles Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
San Francisco Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
San Diego Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Riverside Jan, Mar, May October–May 235
Sacramento Jan, Mar, May October–May 244
San Jose Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Fresno Jan, Mar, Dec October–May 236
Mission Viejo Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Bakersfield Jan, Mar, Dec October–May 234
Concord Jan, Mar, May September–June 275
Long Beach Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Oakland Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Stockton Jan, Mar, Dec October–May 227
Oxnard Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Indio Jan, Mar, Dec November–March 155
Victorville Mar, Apr, Oct February–May 163
Modesto Jan, Mar, Oct October–May 241
Anaheim Jan, Mar, May October–June 272
Antioch Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Santa Ana Jan, Mar, May year-round 350
Irvine Jan, Mar, May October–July 280
Santa Rosa Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Chula Vista Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Santa Clarita Jan, Mar, May October–May 250
Fremont Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
San Bernardino Jan, Mar, May October–May 242
Fontana Jan, Mar, May October–June 250
Moreno Valley Jan, Mar, May October–May 242
Thousand Oaks Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Santa Barbara Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Huntington Beach Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Glendale Jan, Mar, May October–July 288
Hemet Jan, Mar, May October–May 240
Ontario Jan, Mar, May October–June 250
Elk Grove Jan, Mar, May October–May 249
Rancho Cucamonga Jan, Mar, May October–June 250
Salinas Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Vallejo Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Oceanside Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Garden Grove Jan, Mar, May year-round 350
Lancaster Mar, Apr, Oct February–May 143
Visalia Jan, Mar, May October–May 248
Palmdale Mar, Apr, Nov January–May 183
Santa Cruz Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Merced Jan, Mar, Oct October–May 242
Corona Jan, Mar, May October–May 238
Hayward Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Roseville Jan, Mar, May October–May 247
Sunnyvale Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Fairfield Jan, Mar, May October–June 262
Escondido Jan, Mar, May October–June 279
Pomona Jan, Mar, May October–June 264
Santa Maria Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Torrance Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Fullerton Jan, Mar, May September–July 308
Orange Jan, Mar, May October–June 272
Pasadena Jan, Mar, May October–June 258
Santa Clara Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Simi Valley Jan, Mar, May October–May 230
Clovis Jan, Mar, Dec October–May 236
Yuba City Jan, Mar, Dec October–May 240
Seaside Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Berkeley Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Redding Jan, Mar, Dec October–May 234
Gilroy Jan, Mar, May September–June 286
Richmond Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Carlsbad Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Murrieta Jan, Mar, May October–June 273
East Los Angeles Jan, Mar, May October–June 287
Temecula Jan, Mar, May October–June 273
Downey Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Costa Mesa Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Menifee Jan, Mar, Dec October–May 232
San Buenaventura Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Chico Jan, Mar, May September–June 274
West Covina Jan, Mar, May October–June 264
Jurupa Valley Jan, Mar, May October–June 249
El Monte Jan, Mar, May October–June 287
Inglewood Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Burbank Jan, Mar, May October–July 288
El Cajon Jan, Mar, May October–June 283
Rialto Jan, Mar, May October–May 246
San Mateo Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Vacaville Jan, Mar, May October–May 241
Daly City Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Hesperia Mar, Apr, Oct February–May 163
Norwalk Jan, Mar, May September–July 308
Vista Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Tracy Jan, Mar, May October–May 248
Arden-Arcade Jan, Mar, May October–May 244
San Marcos Jan, Mar, May October–June 279
Manteca Jan, Mar, Dec October–May 234
Carson Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Compton Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Chino Jan, Mar, May October–May 238
South Gate Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Santa Monica Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Westminster Jan, Mar, May year-round 350
San Leandro Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Citrus Heights Jan, Mar, May October–May 244
Lake Forest Jan, Mar, May October–June 260
Whittier Jan, Mar, May September–July 308
San Ramon Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Livermore Jan, Mar, May September–June 279
Hawthorne Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Folsom Jan, Mar, May October–May 244
Newport Beach Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Mountain View Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Madera Jan, Mar, Oct October–May 243
Buena Park Jan, Mar, May September–July 308
Redwood City Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Napa Jan, Mar, May year-round 359
Rancho Cordova Jan, Mar, May October–May 244
Alhambra Jan, Mar, May October–June 287
Perris Jan, Mar, Dec October–May 232
Lakewood Jan, Mar, May year-round 366
Turlock Jan, Mar, May October–May 253
Upland Jan, Mar, May October–June 264

The rules behind these numbers

Typical label thresholds for lawn seeding — the single ruleset used by every check on this page.
CheckThresholdWhy it matters
Air temperature 50–85°F (low-temp formulas from 55°F) Cool-season grasses germinate best with daytime highs of roughly 60–80°F.
Overnight low ≥32°F during the first 48 h (≥40°F preferred) Seed survives a light frost, but sustained cold stalls germination.
Dry before no soaking (≥1.0") in the prior 24 h Seeding into mud makes ruts and washes seed into low spots.
Dry after <0.5" rain for 24 h after Light rain after seeding helps. A 0.5"+ downpour washes seed out.
Wind ≤15 mph (broadcast seed drifts up to 25 mph) Broadcast spreading above 15 mph lands seed everywhere but the lawn.

Always follow your product label — formulas vary. The table above is the typical range across major manufacturers, not a promise about your can.

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