New Orleans, LA Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in New Orleans between Jan 27 and Feb 9. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 8 and Oct 13. The last spring frost usually comes around Jan 23. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in New Orleans
| 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 27 – Feb 9 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 8 – Oct 31 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 8 – Oct 13 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 28 – Nov 18 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for New Orleans. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in New Orleans
- JanuaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- OctoberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & pluggingFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in New Orleans by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 55°F and peaks in July at 85°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 27.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55°F | 60°F | 66°F | 71°F | 78°F | 84°F | 85°F | 85°F | 82°F | 75°F | 65°F | 59°F |
New Orleans lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in New Orleans reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 11 (2017) and as late as Feb 23 (2021): 43 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 28 | Feb 22 | Dec 15 |
| 2024 | Jan 25 | Jan 22 | — |
| 2023 | Jan 28 | — | — |
| 2022 | Feb 1 | Jan 23 | Dec 23 |
| 2021 | Feb 23 | Feb 18 | — |
| 2020 | Jan 24 | — | — |
| 2019 | Feb 1 | — | Nov 13 |
| 2018 | Jan 22 | Jan 19 | — |
| 2017 | Jan 11 | Jan 9 | — |
| 2016 | Jan 26 | — | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for New Orleans. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in New Orleans?
In a typical year, between Jan 27 and Feb 9. 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 New Orleans?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 8 – Oct 13, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in New Orleans?
The median last spring frost is Jan 23 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in New Orleans?
Frost is uncommon in New Orleans, so cool spells rather than freezes set the length of the season.
Lawn care guides
More Louisiana lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Gulfport, MS 65 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 30 – Feb 15
- Hattiesburg, MS 106 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 4 – Feb 25
- Mobile, AL 131 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 30 – Feb 15
- Jackson, MS 163 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1