Fort Lauderdale, FL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Fort Lauderdale between Jan 28 and Feb 4. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Feb 1 and Nov 20. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Fort Lauderdale
| 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 28 – Feb 4 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Feb 1 – Dec 10 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Feb 1 – Nov 20 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Dec 10 – Dec 31 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Fort Lauderdale. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Fort Lauderdale
- 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 & plugging
- DecemberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
Soil temperature in Fort Lauderdale by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 69°F and peaks in August at 85°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 28.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69°F | 72°F | 73°F | 77°F | 80°F | 83°F | 84°F | 85°F | 83°F | 81°F | 76°F | 72°F |
Fort Lauderdale lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Fort Lauderdale reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 3 (2024) and as late as Feb 12 (2016): 40 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 3 | — | — |
| 2023 | Jan 16 | — | — |
| 2022 | Jan 31 | — | — |
| 2021 | Feb 5 | — | — |
| 2020 | Jan 23 | — | — |
| 2019 | Jan 30 | — | — |
| 2018 | Jan 6 | — | — |
| 2017 | Feb 1 | — | — |
| 2016 | Feb 12 | — | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Fort Lauderdale. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Fort Lauderdale?
In a typical year, between Jan 28 and Feb 4. 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 Fort Lauderdale?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Feb 1 – Nov 20, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Fort Lauderdale?
Frost does not occur in most years in Fort Lauderdale.
How long is the growing season in Fort Lauderdale?
Frost is uncommon in Fort Lauderdale, 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 377 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 27 – Feb 10
- Savannah, GA 416 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 28 – Feb 14
- Albany, GA 449 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16
- Charleston, SC 460 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 4 – Feb 16