Jacksonville, FL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Jacksonville between Jan 24 and Feb 8. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Feb 23 and Oct 13. The last spring frost usually comes around Jan 24. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Jacksonville
| 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 24 – Feb 8 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Feb 23 – Oct 27 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Feb 23 – Oct 13 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 27 – Nov 17 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Jacksonville. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Jacksonville
- 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 & pluggingFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Jacksonville by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 56°F and peaks in July at 84°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 24.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 56°F | 61°F | 65°F | 71°F | 77°F | 82°F | 84°F | 84°F | 81°F | 74°F | 65°F | 59°F |
Jacksonville lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Jacksonville reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 10 (2018) and as late as Feb 2 (2022): 23 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 29 | Jan 26 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Jan 24 | Jan 22 | — |
| 2023 | Jan 17 | — | — |
| 2022 | Feb 2 | Jan 31 | Dec 24 |
| 2021 | Jan 21 | — | — |
| 2020 | Jan 24 | — | Dec 26 |
| 2019 | Feb 2 | — | — |
| 2018 | Jan 10 | Jan 20 | — |
| 2017 | Jan 11 | Jan 9 | — |
| 2016 | Jan 27 | Jan 25 | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Jacksonville. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Jacksonville?
In a typical year, between Jan 24 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 Jacksonville?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Feb 23 – Oct 13, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Jacksonville?
The median last spring frost is Jan 24 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Jacksonville?
Frost is uncommon in Jacksonville, 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 102 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 27 – Feb 10
- Savannah, GA 126 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 28 – Feb 14
- Albany, GA 172 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16
- Charleston, SC 198 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 4 – Feb 16