Albuquerque, NM Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Albuquerque between Mar 25 and Apr 15. Seed or sod warm-season grass between May 21 and Aug 15. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 15. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Albuquerque
| 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 25 – Apr 15 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | May 21 – Sep 17 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | May 21 – Aug 15 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Sep 23 – Oct 14 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Albuquerque. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Albuquerque
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- OctoberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Albuquerque 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 25.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 41°F | 48°F | 56°F | 64°F | 75°F | 79°F | 78°F | 71°F | 59°F | 46°F | 39°F |
Albuquerque lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Albuquerque reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Mar 3 (2016) and as late as Apr 11 (2024): 39 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 15) and first fall frost (Oct 29), the growing season lasts about 197 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 24 | Apr 21 | Oct 31 |
| 2024 | Apr 11 | Apr 8 | Oct 31 |
| 2023 | Apr 9 | Apr 7 | Oct 30 |
| 2022 | Mar 27 | Apr 15 | Oct 25 |
| 2021 | Apr 3 | Apr 20 | Oct 14 |
| 2020 | Mar 11 | Apr 16 | Oct 27 |
| 2019 | Mar 26 | Apr 15 | Oct 11 |
| 2018 | Mar 23 | Mar 29 | Oct 16 |
| 2017 | Mar 11 | Apr 6 | Oct 29 |
| 2016 | Mar 3 | Apr 20 | Nov 10 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Albuquerque. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing cool-season grass in Albuquerque?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Mar 25 – Apr 15 |
| Spring fertilizer | Apr 8 – May 13 |
| Overseeding & seeding | Aug 15 – Oct 4 |
| Fall fertilizer | Sep 23 – Nov 17 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Albuquerque?
In a typical year, between Mar 25 and Apr 15. 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 Albuquerque?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically May 21 – Aug 15, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Albuquerque?
The median last spring frost is Apr 15 and the median first fall frost is Oct 29 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Albuquerque?
About 197 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 15 to the median first fall frost on Oct 29 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More New Mexico lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- El Paso, TX 230 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 9 – Mar 5
- Pueblo, CO 247 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 8 – May 4
- Amarillo, TX 273 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 15 – Apr 14
- Colorado Springs, CO 278 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 25 – May 20