Soil Temperature for Planting: Why 2-Inch Depth Is the Standard

Planting by soil temperature is smart gardening—but which depth matters most? For garden timing, the 2-inch depth is the practical standard.

Two Key Reasons

First, most weed seeds reside in the top two inches, making this depth ideal for timing pre-emergent herbicide applications. Second, garden transplants and direct-sown seeds concentrate their early root development in this same zone.

Track local soil temperatures at georgiaweather.net for precise planting windows.