Dover, DE Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Dover between Mar 25 and Apr 24. The best time to overseed is between Aug 30 and Oct 19. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 3. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Dover
| 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 25 – Apr 24 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Apr 17 – May 22 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 30 – Oct 19 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 21 – Nov 24 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Dover. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Dover
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- MaySpring fertilizer
- 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 Dover by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 36°F and peaks in July at 79°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 25.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 39°F | 45°F | 55°F | 63°F | 73°F | 79°F | 77°F | 71°F | 61°F | 49°F | 39°F |
Dover lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Dover reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Mar 10 (2016) and as late as Apr 24 (2018): 45 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 (Apr 3) and first fall frost (Nov 13), the growing season lasts about 224 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 17 | Apr 9 | Nov 18 |
| 2024 | Mar 13 | Mar 24 | Nov 14 |
| 2023 | Mar 24 | Mar 21 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | Mar 18 | Mar 30 | Nov 15 |
| 2021 | Mar 25 | Apr 3 | Nov 6 |
| 2020 | Apr 6 | Apr 19 | Nov 19 |
| 2019 | Apr 7 | Apr 2 | Nov 4 |
| 2018 | Apr 24 | Apr 21 | Nov 11 |
| 2017 | Apr 3 | Mar 24 | Nov 11 |
| 2016 | Mar 10 | Apr 10 | Nov 23 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Dover. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Dover?
In a typical year, between Mar 25 and Apr 24. 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 Dover?
Early fall, typically Aug 30 – Oct 19, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Dover?
The median last spring frost is Apr 3 and the median first fall frost is Nov 13 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Dover?
About 224 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 3 to the median first fall frost on Nov 13 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Delaware lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Annapolis, MD 54 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 24 – Apr 19
- Salisbury, MD 55 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 17 – Apr 17
- Philadelphia, PA 58 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 30 – Apr 20
- Baltimore, MD 59 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 22 – Apr 19