Athens, GA Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Athens between Feb 13 and Mar 12. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 21 and Sep 5. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 16. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Athens
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Feb 13 – Mar 12 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 21 – Oct 8 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 21 – Sep 5 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 5 – Oct 26 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Athens. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Athens
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Athens by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 44°F and peaks in July at 81°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 13.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44°F | 50°F | 55°F | 62°F | 70°F | 77°F | 81°F | 80°F | 75°F | 65°F | 55°F | 47°F |
Athens lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Athens reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 14 (2017) and as late as Mar 11 (2020): 56 days apart. A fixed calendar date can't follow that, which is why the report above uses this year's soil temperature. Between the typical last spring frost (Mar 16) and first fall frost (Nov 19), the growing season lasts about 248 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 1 | Mar 4 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Feb 11 | Feb 26 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Feb 14 | Mar 22 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | Feb 23 | Mar 14 | Nov 17 |
| 2021 | Feb 25 | Apr 2 | Nov 23 |
| 2020 | Mar 11 | Mar 8 | Dec 2 |
| 2019 | Feb 6 | Mar 20 | Nov 1 |
| 2018 | Feb 11 | Mar 23 | Nov 16 |
| 2017 | Jan 14 | Mar 18 | Nov 20 |
| 2016 | Feb 22 | Feb 28 | Nov 22 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Athens. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Athens?
In a typical year, between Feb 13 and Mar 12. 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 Athens?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 21 – Sep 5, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Athens?
The median last spring frost is Mar 16 and the median first fall frost is Nov 19 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Athens?
About 248 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 16 to the median first fall frost on Nov 19 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Georgia lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Greenville, SC 83 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 17 – Mar 13
- Asheville, NC 123 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Apr 11
- Chattanooga, TN 133 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 16
- Columbia, SC 135 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 5 – Mar 8