Huntsville, AL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Huntsville between Feb 21 and Mar 15. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 29 and Aug 24. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 22. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Huntsville
| 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 21 – Mar 15 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 29 – Sep 26 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 29 – Aug 24 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Sep 27 – Oct 18 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Huntsville. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Huntsville
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- OctoberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Huntsville by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 41°F and peaks in July at 80°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 21.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41°F | 47°F | 53°F | 60°F | 69°F | 76°F | 80°F | 79°F | 74°F | 64°F | 52°F | 45°F |
Huntsville lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Huntsville reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 13 (2017) and as late as Mar 10 (2020): 56 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 22) and first fall frost (Nov 7), the growing season lasts about 230 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 4 | Mar 22 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Mar 3 | Mar 20 | Nov 24 |
| 2023 | Feb 21 | Mar 21 | Nov 1 |
| 2022 | Mar 4 | Mar 14 | Oct 19 |
| 2021 | Feb 26 | Apr 22 | Nov 14 |
| 2020 | Mar 10 | Mar 8 | Nov 3 |
| 2019 | Feb 5 | Apr 1 | Nov 1 |
| 2018 | Feb 16 | Apr 9 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Jan 13 | Mar 17 | Oct 30 |
| 2016 | Feb 21 | Mar 22 | Nov 11 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Huntsville. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Huntsville?
In a typical year, between Feb 21 and Mar 15. 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 Huntsville?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 29 – Aug 24, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Huntsville?
The median last spring frost is Mar 22 and the median first fall frost is Nov 7 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Huntsville?
About 230 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 22 to the median first fall frost on Nov 7 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Alabama lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Chattanooga, TN 76 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 16
- Murfreesboro, TN 78 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Apr 3
- Franklin, TN 84 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Mar 26
- Nashville, TN 99 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Mar 26