Sacramento, CA Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Sacramento between Feb 3 and Mar 13. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 8. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Sacramento
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Feb 3 – Mar 13 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Mar 6 – Apr 10 |
| 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 Sep 19 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Sacramento. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Sacramento
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- 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.
- SeptemberFall fertilizer
- OctoberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Sacramento by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in December at 48°F and peaks in July at 77°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 3.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49°F | 51°F | 54°F | 60°F | 66°F | 73°F | 77°F | 77°F | 74°F | 66°F | 55°F | 48°F |
Sacramento lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Sacramento reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 10 (2019) and as late as Mar 13 (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 20 | — | — |
| 2024 | Jan 19 | — | — |
| 2023 | Mar 13 | Feb 19 | — |
| 2022 | Feb 8 | Feb 26 | Nov 21 |
| 2021 | Feb 1 | Jan 27 | — |
| 2020 | Jan 25 | — | — |
| 2019 | Jan 10 | Feb 8 | — |
| 2018 | Mar 9 | Mar 6 | — |
| 2017 | Feb 4 | Jan 7 | Dec 13 |
| 2016 | Jan 18 | Jan 2 | Dec 18 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Sacramento. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing warm-season grass in Sacramento?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Feb 3 – Mar 13 |
| Fertilizer | May 4 – Sep 30 |
| Seeding, sodding & plugging | May 4 – Aug 21 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) | Sep 19 – Oct 10 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Sacramento?
In a typical year, between Feb 3 and Mar 13. 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 Sacramento?
It depends on your grass type and this year’s soil temperature.
When is the last frost in Sacramento?
The median last spring frost is Feb 8 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Sacramento?
Frost is uncommon in Sacramento, 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 112 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 7 – May 4
- Medford, OR 269 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 2 – May 3
- Elko, NV 342 miles away · crabgrass preventer May 2 – May 28
- Bend, OR 379 miles away · crabgrass preventer May 7 – Jun 4