Mesa, AZ Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Mesa between Jan 17 and Feb 4. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 15 and Oct 23. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Mesa
| 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 17 – Feb 4 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 15 – Nov 9 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 15 – Oct 23 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Nov 9 – Nov 30 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Mesa. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Mesa
- 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
- OctoberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- NovemberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Mesa by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 54°F and peaks in July at 95°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 17.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 54°F | 58°F | 63°F | 72°F | 79°F | 90°F | 95°F | 94°F | 89°F | 78°F | 66°F | 57°F |
Mesa lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Mesa reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 3 (2016) and as late as Feb 27 (2018): 55 days apart. A fixed calendar date can't follow that, which is why the report above uses this year's soil temperature.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jan 16 | — | — |
| 2024 | Jan 17 | Jan 10 | — |
| 2023 | Jan 30 | — | — |
| 2022 | Jan 3 | — | — |
| 2021 | Jan 28 | — | — |
| 2020 | Jan 5 | — | — |
| 2019 | Jan 9 | Jan 4 | — |
| 2018 | Feb 27 | — | — |
| 2017 | Jan 30 | — | — |
| 2016 | Jan 3 | Jan 1 | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Mesa. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Mesa?
In a typical year, between Jan 17 and Feb 4. 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 Mesa?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 15 – Oct 23, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Mesa?
Frost does not occur in most years in Mesa.
How long is the growing season in Mesa?
Frost is uncommon in Mesa, so cool spells rather than freezes set the length of the season.
Lawn care guides
More Arizona lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Henderson, NV 255 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 3 – Feb 22
- Las Vegas, NV 267 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 3 – Feb 17
- St. George, UT 273 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 25 – Mar 30
- Las Cruces, NM 303 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 24 – Mar 16