Miami, FL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Miami between Jan 25 and Feb 1. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Jan 31 and Nov 20. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Miami
| 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 1 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Jan 31 – Dec 11 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Jan 31 – Nov 20 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Dec 11 – Jan 1 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Miami. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Miami
- JanuaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)FertilizerSeeding, sodding & pluggingFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- 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 Miami by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 69°F and peaks in July 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69°F | 72°F | 74°F | 77°F | 80°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 84°F | 81°F | 76°F | 72°F |
Miami lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Miami reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 4 (2024) and as late as Feb 5 (2021): 32 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 4 | — | — |
| 2023 | Jan 16 | — | — |
| 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 Miami. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Miami?
In a typical year, between Jan 25 and Feb 1. 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 Miami?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Jan 31 – Nov 20, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Miami?
Frost does not occur in most years in Miami.
How long is the growing season in Miami?
Frost is uncommon in Miami, 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 398 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 27 – Feb 10
- Savannah, GA 440 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 28 – Feb 14
- Albany, GA 469 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16
- Charleston, SC 485 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 4 – Feb 16