Lakeland, FL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Lakeland between Jan 26 and Feb 4. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Feb 9 and Oct 25. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Lakeland
| 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 26 – Feb 4 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Feb 9 – Nov 13 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Feb 9 – Oct 25 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Nov 10 – Dec 1 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Lakeland. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Lakeland
- 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
- NovemberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
Soil temperature in Lakeland by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 61°F and peaks in July at 84°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 26.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61°F | 66°F | 69°F | 74°F | 79°F | 82°F | 84°F | 84°F | 82°F | 77°F | 70°F | 65°F |
Lakeland lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Lakeland reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 9 (2018) and as late as Feb 5 (2021): 27 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 27 | — | — |
| 2024 | Jan 22 | — | — |
| 2023 | Jan 16 | — | — |
| 2022 | Feb 1 | Jan 31 | Dec 24 |
| 2021 | Feb 5 | — | — |
| 2020 | Jan 23 | — | — |
| 2019 | Jan 31 | — | — |
| 2018 | Jan 9 | Jan 19 | — |
| 2017 | Jan 31 | — | — |
| 2016 | Jan 25 | — | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Lakeland. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Lakeland?
In a typical year, between Jan 26 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 Lakeland?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Feb 9 – Oct 25, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Lakeland?
Frost does not occur in most years in Lakeland.
How long is the growing season in Lakeland?
Frost is uncommon in Lakeland, 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 209 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 27 – Feb 10
- Albany, GA 278 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16
- Savannah, GA 284 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 28 – Feb 14
- Dothan, AL 302 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 17