West Palm Beach, FL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in West Palm Beach between Jan 24 and Jan 31. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Jan 31 and Nov 17. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in West Palm Beach
| 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 – Jan 31 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Jan 31 – Nov 28 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Jan 31 – Nov 17 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Nov 28 – Dec 19 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for West Palm Beach. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in West Palm Beach
- JanuaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)FertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- FebruaryFertilizerSeeding, 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 & pluggingFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
Soil temperature in West Palm Beach by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 67°F and peaks in August 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67°F | 71°F | 73°F | 76°F | 79°F | 82°F | 84°F | 85°F | 83°F | 80°F | 75°F | 71°F |
West Palm Beach lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in West Palm Beach reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 3 (2024) and as late as Feb 5 (2021): 33 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 10 | — | — |
| 2024 | Jan 3 | — | — |
| 2023 | Jan 16 | — | — |
| 2022 | Jan 31 | — | — |
| 2021 | Feb 5 | — | — |
| 2020 | Jan 23 | — | — |
| 2019 | Jan 29 | — | — |
| 2018 | Jan 6 | — | — |
| 2017 | Jan 31 | — | — |
| 2016 | Jan 25 | — | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for West Palm Beach. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in West Palm Beach?
In a typical year, between Jan 24 and Jan 31. 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 West Palm Beach?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Jan 31 – Nov 17, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in West Palm Beach?
Frost does not occur in most years in West Palm Beach.
How long is the growing season in West Palm Beach?
Frost is uncommon in West Palm Beach, 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 345 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 27 – Feb 10
- Savannah, GA 376 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 28 – Feb 14
- Albany, GA 418 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16
- Charleston, SC 419 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 4 – Feb 16