Phoenix, AZ Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Phoenix between Jan 21 and Feb 3. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 9 and Oct 23. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Phoenix
| 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 21 – Feb 3 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 9 – Nov 2 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 9 – Oct 23 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Nov 2 – Nov 23 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Phoenix. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Phoenix
- 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 Phoenix by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 55°F and peaks in July at 96°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 21.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55°F | 59°F | 64°F | 73°F | 80°F | 91°F | 96°F | 94°F | 90°F | 79°F | 66°F | 58°F |
Phoenix lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Phoenix reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 3 (2016) and as late as Feb 25 (2018): 53 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 24 | — | — |
| 2024 | Jan 17 | Jan 10 | — |
| 2023 | Jan 30 | — | — |
| 2022 | Jan 4 | — | — |
| 2021 | Jan 29 | — | — |
| 2020 | Jan 3 | — | — |
| 2019 | Jan 8 | Jan 3 | — |
| 2018 | Feb 25 | — | — |
| 2017 | Jan 30 | — | — |
| 2016 | Jan 3 | — | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Phoenix. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Phoenix?
In a typical year, between Jan 21 and Feb 3. 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 Phoenix?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 9 – Oct 23, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Phoenix?
Frost does not occur in most years in Phoenix.
How long is the growing season in Phoenix?
Frost is uncommon in Phoenix, 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 244 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 3 – Feb 22
- Las Vegas, NV 256 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 3 – Feb 17
- St. George, UT 266 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 25 – Mar 30
- San Diego, CA 299 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 15