Hempstead, NY Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Hempstead between Apr 12 and May 6. The best time to overseed is between Sep 3 and Oct 23. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 1. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Hempstead
| 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 12 – May 6 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Apr 29 – Jun 3 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Sep 3 – Oct 23 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 17 – Nov 21 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Hempstead. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Hempstead
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- MayCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- JuneSpring fertilizer
- JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AugustNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- OctoberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Hempstead by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 35°F and peaks in July at 78°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Apr 12.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35°F | 36°F | 42°F | 51°F | 61°F | 70°F | 78°F | 76°F | 70°F | 60°F | 48°F | 39°F |
Hempstead lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Hempstead reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Mar 19 (2022) and as late as May 1 (2020): 43 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 1) and first fall frost (Nov 17), the growing season lasts about 230 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Apr 18 | Apr 9 | Nov 23 |
| 2024 | Apr 10 | Mar 25 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Apr 11 | Mar 31 | Nov 13 |
| 2022 | Mar 19 | Mar 31 | Nov 15 |
| 2021 | Mar 26 | Apr 3 | Nov 20 |
| 2020 | May 1 | Mar 16 | Nov 18 |
| 2019 | Apr 13 | Apr 2 | Nov 8 |
| 2018 | Apr 25 | Apr 11 | Nov 12 |
| 2017 | Apr 11 | Mar 24 | Nov 11 |
| 2016 | Apr 18 | Apr 10 | Dec 9 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Hempstead. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Hempstead?
In a typical year, between Apr 12 and May 6. 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 Hempstead?
Early fall, typically Sep 3 – Oct 23, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Hempstead?
The median last spring frost is Apr 1 and the median first fall frost is Nov 17 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Hempstead?
About 230 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 1 to the median first fall frost on Nov 17 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More New York lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Stamford, CT 24 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 14 – May 7
- Newark, NJ 29 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 11 – May 2
- New Haven, CT 55 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 14 – May 8
- Toms River, NJ 61 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 12 – May 6