Mobile, AL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Mobile between Jan 30 and Feb 15. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 12 and Sep 25. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 22. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Mobile
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Jan 30 – Feb 15 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 12 – Oct 20 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 12 – Sep 25 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 23 – Nov 13 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Mobile. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Mobile
- JanuaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Mobile by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 51°F and peaks in August at 84°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 30.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51°F | 56°F | 62°F | 67°F | 75°F | 81°F | 83°F | 84°F | 80°F | 72°F | 61°F | 55°F |
Mobile lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Mobile reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 12 (2017) and as late as Feb 24 (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 (Feb 22) and first fall frost (Dec 2), the growing season lasts about 283 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jan 29 | Feb 22 | Dec 15 |
| 2024 | Jan 25 | Jan 22 | — |
| 2023 | Jan 17 | Mar 20 | — |
| 2022 | Feb 17 | Mar 14 | Nov 18 |
| 2021 | Feb 24 | Feb 21 | — |
| 2020 | Feb 3 | Feb 28 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Feb 3 | Mar 7 | Nov 13 |
| 2018 | Jan 27 | Jan 31 | Nov 28 |
| 2017 | Jan 12 | Jan 9 | Dec 9 |
| 2016 | Jan 30 | Feb 11 | Dec 10 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Mobile. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Mobile?
In a typical year, between Jan 30 and Feb 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 Mobile?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 12 – Sep 25, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Mobile?
The median last spring frost is Feb 22 and the median first fall frost is Dec 2 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Mobile?
About 283 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 22 to the median first fall frost on Dec 2 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Alabama lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Pensacola, FL 52 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 28 – Feb 12
- Gulfport, MS 66 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 30 – Feb 15
- Hattiesburg, MS 86 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 4 – Feb 25
- New Orleans, LA 131 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 27 – Feb 9