Auburn, AL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Auburn between Feb 9 and Mar 9. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 31 and Aug 31. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 19. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Auburn
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Feb 9 – Mar 9 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 31 – Oct 3 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 31 – Aug 31 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 10 – Oct 31 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Auburn. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Auburn
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)FertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizer
- OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Auburn by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 46°F and peaks in July at 80°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 9.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46°F | 52°F | 57°F | 63°F | 71°F | 77°F | 80°F | 80°F | 76°F | 67°F | 56°F | 49°F |
Auburn lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Auburn reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 13 (2017) and as late as Feb 25 (2021): 43 days apart. A fixed calendar date can't follow that, which is why the report above uses this year's soil temperature. Between the typical last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 14), the growing season lasts about 240 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jan 31 | Feb 23 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Jan 26 | Mar 19 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Feb 7 | Mar 21 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | Feb 23 | Mar 15 | Oct 19 |
| 2021 | Feb 25 | Apr 3 | Nov 14 |
| 2020 | Feb 11 | Mar 1 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Feb 5 | Mar 8 | Nov 13 |
| 2018 | Feb 11 | Mar 22 | Nov 16 |
| 2017 | Jan 13 | Mar 17 | Oct 30 |
| 2016 | Feb 20 | Mar 23 | Nov 20 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Auburn. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Auburn?
In a typical year, between Feb 9 and Mar 9. Put it down when soil reaches 50°F, before it stays above 55°F and crabgrass starts sprouting. Early springs move this up by a week or more, so check this year's soil temperature above.
When is the best time to plant grass seed in Auburn?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 31 – Aug 31, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Auburn?
The median last spring frost is Mar 19 and the median first fall frost is Nov 14 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Auburn?
About 240 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 19 to the median first fall frost on Nov 14 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Alabama lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Columbus, GA 30 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 2 – Mar 2
- Atlanta, GA 101 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 16 – Mar 12
- Albany, GA 105 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16
- Marietta, GA 107 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 22 – Mar 12