Jonesboro, AR Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Jonesboro between Mar 7 and Mar 28. The best time to overseed is between Aug 21 and Oct 10. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 21. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Jonesboro
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Mar 7 – Mar 28 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Mar 21 – Apr 25 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 21 – Oct 10 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 29 – Nov 28 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Jonesboro. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Jonesboro
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- AprilSpring fertilizer
- MayNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- JuneNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AugustOverseeding & seeding
- SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- OctoberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Jonesboro by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 38°F and peaks in July at 81°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 7.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38°F | 42°F | 51°F | 59°F | 69°F | 77°F | 81°F | 79°F | 75°F | 64°F | 51°F | 43°F |
Jonesboro lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Jonesboro reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 20 (2017) and as late as Mar 24 (2019): 32 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 21) and first fall frost (Nov 4), the growing season lasts about 228 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 11 | Mar 6 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Feb 23 | Mar 20 | Nov 29 |
| 2023 | Feb 27 | Mar 21 | Oct 31 |
| 2022 | Mar 4 | Mar 14 | Oct 18 |
| 2021 | Mar 10 | Apr 21 | Nov 4 |
| 2020 | Mar 3 | Mar 8 | Nov 2 |
| 2019 | Mar 24 | Apr 1 | Nov 1 |
| 2018 | Mar 24 | Apr 9 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Feb 20 | Mar 16 | Oct 28 |
| 2016 | Mar 8 | Mar 22 | Nov 13 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Jonesboro. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing warm-season grass in Jonesboro?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Mar 7 – Mar 28 |
| Fertilizer | May 2 – Sep 23 |
| Seeding, sodding & plugging | May 2 – Aug 21 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) | Sep 29 – Oct 20 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Jonesboro?
In a typical year, between Mar 7 and Mar 28. 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 Jonesboro?
Early fall, typically Aug 21 – Oct 10, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Jonesboro?
The median last spring frost is Mar 21 and the median first fall frost is Nov 4 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Jonesboro?
About 228 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 21 to the median first fall frost on Nov 4 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Arkansas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Memphis, TN 60 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 28 – Mar 18
- Southaven, MS 70 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 27 – Mar 18
- Paducah, KY 145 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 11 – Apr 4
- Carbondale, IL 154 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 20 – Apr 16