Fresno, CA Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Fresno between Jan 25 and Mar 6. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 20. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Fresno
| 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 25 – Mar 6 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Feb 27 – Apr 3 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | — |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | from Oct 10 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Fresno. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Fresno
- JanuaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- 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.
- AugustNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- SeptemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- OctoberFall fertilizer
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Fresno by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 49°F and peaks in July at 84°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 25.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49°F | 52°F | 56°F | 62°F | 69°F | 78°F | 84°F | 83°F | 78°F | 68°F | 57°F | 49°F |
Fresno lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Fresno reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 8 (2019) and as late as Mar 11 (2023): 62 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 | Feb 2 | — | — |
| 2024 | Jan 20 | Jan 9 | — |
| 2023 | Mar 11 | Feb 17 | — |
| 2022 | Jan 24 | Feb 25 | Dec 18 |
| 2021 | Feb 2 | — | Dec 20 |
| 2020 | Jan 25 | Feb 6 | — |
| 2019 | Jan 8 | Feb 23 | — |
| 2018 | Mar 8 | Feb 25 | — |
| 2017 | Jan 9 | Feb 25 | Dec 6 |
| 2016 | Jan 17 | Feb 4 | Dec 7 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Fresno. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing warm-season grass in Fresno?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Jan 25 – Mar 6 |
| Fertilizer | Apr 24 – Oct 22 |
| Seeding, sodding & plugging | Apr 24 – Sep 23 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) | Oct 10 – Oct 31 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Fresno?
In a typical year, between Jan 25 and Mar 6. 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 Fresno?
It depends on your grass type and this year’s soil temperature.
When is the last frost in Fresno?
The median last spring frost is Feb 20 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Fresno?
Frost is uncommon in Fresno, so cool spells rather than freezes set the length of the season.
Lawn care guides
More California lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Reno, NV 193 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 7 – May 4
- Las Vegas, NV 261 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 3 – Feb 17
- Henderson, NV 272 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 3 – Feb 22
- St. George, UT 344 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 25 – Mar 30