Monroe, LA Lawn Care Calendar

In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Monroe between Feb 6 and Mar 1. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 29 and Aug 30. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 25. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).

Typical lawn care dates in Monroe

Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
Feb 6 – Mar 1
Fertilizer
Mar 29 – Oct 2
Seeding, sodding & plugging
Mar 29 – Aug 30
Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
Oct 17 – Nov 7
Light band: typical frost-free season. Bars: typical windows.
TaskTypical window
Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens.Feb 6 – Mar 1
FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost.Mar 29 – Oct 2
Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost.Mar 29 – Aug 30
Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F.Oct 17 – Nov 7

Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Monroe. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.

Month-by-month lawn care in Monroe

  1. JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  2. FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
  3. MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)FertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
  4. AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
  5. MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
  6. JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
  7. JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
  8. AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
  9. SeptemberFertilizer
  10. OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
  11. NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
  12. DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.

Soil temperature in Monroe by month

Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 47°F and peaks in July at 84°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 6.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
47°F51°F60°F65°F74°F80°F84°F84°F79°F69°F58°F51°F

Monroe lawn timing, year by year

Over the last 10 years, soil in Monroe reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 12 (2017) and as late as Mar 3 (2022): 50 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 (Feb 25) and first fall frost (Nov 13), the growing season lasts about 261 days.

YearCrabgrass window openedLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2025Jan 31Feb 22Nov 11
2024Jan 25Feb 20Nov 30
2023Feb 8Mar 21Nov 2
2022Mar 3Mar 14Oct 19
2021Feb 25Mar 3Nov 27
2020Mar 1Feb 28Dec 1
2019Feb 4Mar 7Nov 9
2018Feb 15Feb 9Nov 14
2017Jan 12Jan 28Oct 29
2016Jan 31Feb 11Nov 20

Estimated from daily temperatures for Monroe. A dash means it didn't happen that year.

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply pre-emergent in Monroe?

In a typical year, between Feb 6 and Mar 1. 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 Monroe?

Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 29 – Aug 30, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.

When is the last frost in Monroe?

The median last spring frost is Feb 25 and the median first fall frost is Nov 13 (2016–2025).

How long is the growing season in Monroe?

About 261 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 25 to the median first fall frost on Nov 13 (2016–2025).

Lawn care guides

More Louisiana lawn calendars

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