Riverside, CA Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Riverside between Jan 30 and Feb 8. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 10 and Jul 29. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Riverside
| 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 8 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 10 – Oct 6 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 10 – Jul 29 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 6 – Oct 27 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Riverside. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Riverside
- JanuaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizer
- SeptemberFertilizer
- OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Riverside by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 55°F and peaks in August at 80°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55°F | 57°F | 58°F | 63°F | 66°F | 72°F | 79°F | 80°F | 77°F | 71°F | 63°F | 57°F |
Riverside lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Riverside reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 6 (2022) and as late as Mar 10 (2023): 63 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 31 | — | — |
| 2024 | Jan 16 | — | — |
| 2023 | Mar 10 | — | — |
| 2022 | Jan 6 | — | — |
| 2021 | Feb 1 | — | — |
| 2020 | Jan 17 | — | — |
| 2019 | Feb 26 | — | — |
| 2018 | Mar 3 | — | — |
| 2017 | Jan 29 | — | — |
| 2016 | Jan 11 | — | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Riverside. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing cool-season grass in Riverside?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Jan 30 – Feb 8 |
| Spring fertilizer | Feb 1 – Mar 8 |
| Overseeding & seeding | — |
| Fall fertilizer | from Oct 6 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Riverside?
In a typical year, between Jan 30 and Feb 8. 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 Riverside?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 10 – Jul 29, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Riverside?
Frost does not occur in most years in Riverside.
How long is the growing season in Riverside?
Frost is uncommon in Riverside, so cool spells rather than freezes set the length of the season.
Lawn care guides
More California lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Yuma, AZ 182 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 18 – Jan 31
- Henderson, NV 199 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 3 – Feb 22
- Las Vegas, NV 200 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 3 – Feb 17
- Prescott, AZ 285 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 3 – Apr 30