Tampa, FL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Tampa between Jan 24 and Feb 2. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Feb 9 and Oct 27. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Tampa
| 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 2 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Feb 9 – Nov 15 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Feb 9 – Oct 27 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Nov 15 – Dec 6 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Tampa. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Tampa
- 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 Tampa by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 62°F and peaks in July at 85°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 62°F | 66°F | 70°F | 75°F | 80°F | 83°F | 85°F | 85°F | 83°F | 78°F | 71°F | 65°F |
Tampa lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Tampa reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 8 (2018) and as late as Feb 5 (2021): 28 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 | Jan 31 | — | Dec 24 |
| 2021 | Feb 5 | — | — |
| 2020 | Jan 23 | — | — |
| 2019 | Jan 31 | — | — |
| 2018 | Jan 8 | Jan 19 | — |
| 2017 | Jan 10 | — | — |
| 2016 | Jan 25 | — | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Tampa. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Tampa?
In a typical year, between Jan 24 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 Tampa?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Feb 9 – Oct 27, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Tampa?
Frost does not occur in most years in Tampa.
How long is the growing season in Tampa?
Frost is uncommon in Tampa, 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 205 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 27 – Feb 10
- Albany, GA 271 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16
- Dothan, AL 286 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 17
- Savannah, GA 297 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 28 – Feb 14