Cape Coral, FL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Cape Coral between Jan 25 and Feb 2. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Feb 3 and Nov 5. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Cape Coral
| 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 – Feb 2 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Feb 3 – Nov 26 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Feb 3 – Nov 5 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Nov 26 – Dec 17 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Cape Coral. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Cape Coral
- JanuaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)FertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MarchFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- OctoberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- NovemberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & pluggingFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
Soil temperature in Cape Coral by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 65°F and peaks in August at 85°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 65°F | 69°F | 72°F | 76°F | 80°F | 83°F | 84°F | 85°F | 84°F | 80°F | 74°F | 69°F |
Cape Coral lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Cape Coral reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 6 (2018) and as late as Feb 5 (2021): 30 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 25 | — | — |
| 2024 | Jan 22 | — | — |
| 2023 | Jan 17 | — | — |
| 2022 | Jan 31 | — | — |
| 2021 | Feb 5 | — | — |
| 2020 | Jan 23 | — | — |
| 2019 | Jan 30 | — | — |
| 2018 | Jan 6 | — | — |
| 2017 | Jan 31 | — | — |
| 2016 | Jan 25 | — | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Cape Coral. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Cape Coral?
In a typical year, between Jan 25 and Feb 2. 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 Cape Coral?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Feb 3 – Nov 5, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Cape Coral?
Frost does not occur in most years in Cape Coral.
How long is the growing season in Cape Coral?
Frost is uncommon in Cape Coral, so cool spells rather than freezes set the length of the season.
Lawn care guides
More Florida lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Valdosta, GA 306 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 27 – Feb 10
- Albany, GA 372 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16
- Dothan, AL 383 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 17
- Savannah, GA 385 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 28 – Feb 14