Bowling Green, KY Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Bowling Green between Mar 8 and Apr 7. The best time to overseed is between Aug 19 and Oct 8. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 3. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Bowling Green
| 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 8 – Apr 7 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Mar 31 – May 5 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 19 – Oct 8 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 22 – Nov 23 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Bowling Green. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Bowling Green
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- 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 Bowling Green by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 36°F and peaks in July at 79°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 8.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 41°F | 49°F | 56°F | 66°F | 75°F | 79°F | 77°F | 72°F | 61°F | 48°F | 41°F |
Bowling Green lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Bowling Green reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 20 (2018) and as late as Apr 5 (2019): 44 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 3) and first fall frost (Nov 2), the growing season lasts about 213 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 12 | Mar 22 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Mar 5 | Mar 25 | Nov 24 |
| 2023 | Feb 27 | Apr 24 | Oct 31 |
| 2022 | Mar 5 | Apr 2 | Oct 18 |
| 2021 | Mar 11 | Apr 4 | Nov 4 |
| 2020 | Mar 26 | May 9 | Nov 2 |
| 2019 | Apr 5 | Apr 2 | Nov 1 |
| 2018 | Feb 20 | Apr 20 | Oct 21 |
| 2017 | Feb 21 | Mar 23 | Oct 30 |
| 2016 | Mar 9 | Apr 10 | Nov 10 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Bowling Green. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Bowling Green?
In a typical year, between Mar 8 and Apr 7. 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 Bowling Green?
Early fall, typically Aug 19 – Oct 8, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Bowling Green?
The median last spring frost is Apr 3 and the median first fall frost is Nov 2 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Bowling Green?
About 213 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 3 to the median first fall frost on Nov 2 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Kentucky lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Clarksville, TN 60 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Mar 26
- Nashville, TN 60 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Mar 26
- Franklin, TN 77 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Mar 26
- Murfreesboro, TN 79 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Apr 3