Santa Fe, NM Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Santa Fe between Apr 19 and May 14. The best time to overseed is between Aug 1 and Sep 20. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 29. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Santa Fe
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Apr 19 – May 14 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | May 7 – Jun 11 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 1 – Sep 20 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Aug 9 – Nov 8 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Santa Fe. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Santa Fe
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MayCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- JuneSpring fertilizer
- JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AugustOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- OctoberFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Santa Fe by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 31°F and peaks in July at 72°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Apr 19.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31°F | 35°F | 42°F | 49°F | 57°F | 68°F | 72°F | 70°F | 65°F | 54°F | 42°F | 35°F |
Santa Fe lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Santa Fe reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Mar 16 (2017) and as late as May 6 (2016): 51 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 29) and first fall frost (Oct 15), the growing season lasts about 169 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Apr 11 | Apr 21 | Oct 29 |
| 2024 | Apr 18 | Apr 29 | Oct 31 |
| 2023 | May 1 | Apr 29 | Oct 14 |
| 2022 | Apr 18 | Apr 15 | Oct 25 |
| 2021 | Apr 5 | Apr 29 | Oct 13 |
| 2020 | Apr 24 | Apr 17 | Sep 9 |
| 2019 | Apr 25 | May 22 | Oct 11 |
| 2018 | Apr 8 | May 4 | Oct 15 |
| 2017 | Mar 16 | May 20 | Oct 10 |
| 2016 | May 6 | Apr 27 | Nov 9 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Santa Fe. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing warm-season grass in Santa Fe?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Apr 19 – May 14 |
| Fertilizer | Jun 6 – Sep 3 |
| Seeding, sodding & plugging | Jun 6 – Aug 1 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) | Jul 20 – Aug 10 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Santa Fe?
In a typical year, between Apr 19 and May 14. 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 Santa Fe?
Early fall, typically Aug 1 – Sep 20, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Santa Fe?
The median last spring frost is Apr 29 and the median first fall frost is Oct 15 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Santa Fe?
About 169 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 29 to the median first fall frost on Oct 15 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More New Mexico lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Pueblo, CO 192 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 8 – May 4
- Colorado Springs, CO 226 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 25 – May 20
- Amarillo, TX 234 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 15 – Apr 14
- El Paso, TX 273 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 9 – Mar 5