Wichita, KS Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Wichita between Mar 20 and Apr 14. The best time to overseed is between Aug 15 and Oct 4. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 11. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Wichita
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Mar 20 – Apr 14 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Apr 7 – May 12 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 15 – Oct 4 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 28 – Nov 11 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Wichita. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Wichita
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- MaySpring fertilizer
- JuneNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AugustOverseeding & seeding
- SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- OctoberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Wichita by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 33°F and peaks in July at 81°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 20.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 36°F | 48°F | 56°F | 65°F | 77°F | 81°F | 79°F | 74°F | 61°F | 47°F | 38°F |
Wichita lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Wichita reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 19 (2017) and as late as Apr 24 (2018): 64 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 (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Oct 29), the growing season lasts about 201 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 12 | Mar 21 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Mar 12 | Mar 28 | Nov 22 |
| 2023 | Mar 31 | Apr 23 | Oct 30 |
| 2022 | Apr 4 | Apr 10 | Oct 18 |
| 2021 | Mar 9 | Apr 21 | Nov 13 |
| 2020 | Mar 26 | Apr 18 | Oct 26 |
| 2019 | Apr 4 | Apr 12 | Oct 12 |
| 2018 | Apr 24 | Apr 17 | Oct 15 |
| 2017 | Feb 19 | Mar 16 | Oct 28 |
| 2016 | Mar 6 | Apr 2 | Nov 12 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Wichita. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Wichita?
In a typical year, between Mar 20 and Apr 14. 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 Wichita?
Early fall, typically Aug 15 – Oct 4, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Wichita?
The median last spring frost is Apr 11 and the median first fall frost is Oct 29 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Wichita?
About 201 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 11 to the median first fall frost on Oct 29 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Kansas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Tulsa, OK 130 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Mar 30
- Broken Arrow, OK 142 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 4 – Mar 30
- Oklahoma City, OK 154 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 7 – Mar 31
- Joplin, MO 161 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 11 – Apr 13