Roswell, NM Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Roswell between Mar 1 and Mar 18. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 27 and Aug 20. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 29. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Roswell
| 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 1 – Mar 18 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 27 – Sep 22 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 27 – Aug 20 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 6 – Oct 27 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Roswell. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Roswell
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizer
- OctoberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Roswell by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 40°F and peaks in July at 83°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 1.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 71°F | 80°F | 83°F | 82°F | 75°F | 64°F | 52°F | 44°F |
Roswell lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Roswell reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 4 (2025) and as late as Mar 25 (2022): 49 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 (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 3), the growing season lasts about 219 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 4 | Apr 6 | Oct 29 |
| 2024 | Feb 22 | Apr 10 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Feb 27 | Mar 29 | Oct 30 |
| 2022 | Mar 25 | Mar 25 | Nov 12 |
| 2021 | Mar 9 | Mar 26 | Nov 6 |
| 2020 | Mar 2 | Mar 1 | Oct 27 |
| 2019 | Mar 9 | Apr 15 | Oct 25 |
| 2018 | Mar 9 | Mar 29 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Feb 8 | Mar 4 | Oct 29 |
| 2016 | Feb 18 | Apr 3 | Nov 19 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Roswell. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing cool-season grass in Roswell?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Mar 1 – Mar 18 |
| Spring fertilizer | Mar 11 – Apr 15 |
| Overseeding & seeding | Aug 20 – Oct 9 |
| Fall fertilizer | Oct 6 – Dec 1 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Roswell?
In a typical year, between Mar 1 and Mar 18. 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 Roswell?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 27 – Aug 20, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Roswell?
The median last spring frost is Mar 29 and the median first fall frost is Nov 3 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Roswell?
About 219 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 29 to the median first fall frost on Nov 3 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More New Mexico lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Lubbock, TX 154 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Mar 31
- El Paso, TX 161 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 9 – Mar 5
- Midland, TX 171 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 14 – Mar 12
- Amarillo, TX 199 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 15 – Apr 14