Greensboro, NC Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Greensboro between Mar 8 and Mar 29. The best time to overseed is between Aug 28 and Oct 17. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 24. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Greensboro
| 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 8 – Mar 29 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Mar 22 – Apr 26 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 28 – Oct 17 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 21 – Nov 28 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Greensboro. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Greensboro
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- AprilSpring fertilizer
- MayNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- JuneNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AugustOverseeding & seeding
- SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- OctoberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Greensboro 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 80°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 8.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40°F | 45°F | 51°F | 60°F | 67°F | 75°F | 80°F | 77°F | 72°F | 62°F | 51°F | 43°F |
Greensboro lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Greensboro reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 18 (2017) and as late as Apr 5 (2019): 77 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 24) and first fall frost (Nov 11), the growing season lasts about 232 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 12 | Mar 7 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Mar 4 | Mar 25 | Nov 22 |
| 2023 | Feb 22 | Mar 22 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | Mar 3 | Mar 14 | Oct 19 |
| 2021 | Mar 11 | Apr 3 | Nov 15 |
| 2020 | Mar 11 | Mar 8 | Nov 19 |
| 2019 | Apr 5 | Apr 1 | Nov 9 |
| 2018 | Feb 21 | Mar 24 | Nov 11 |
| 2017 | Jan 18 | Mar 23 | Nov 11 |
| 2016 | Mar 9 | Apr 10 | Nov 13 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Greensboro. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing warm-season grass in Greensboro?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Mar 8 – Mar 29 |
| Fertilizer | Apr 30 – Sep 30 |
| Seeding, sodding & plugging | Apr 30 – Aug 28 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) | Sep 21 – Oct 12 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Greensboro?
In a typical year, between Mar 8 and Mar 29. 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 Greensboro?
Early fall, typically Aug 28 – Oct 17, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Greensboro?
The median last spring frost is Mar 24 and the median first fall frost is Nov 11 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Greensboro?
About 232 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 24 to the median first fall frost on Nov 11 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More North Carolina lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Roanoke, VA 83 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 9 – Apr 5
- Lynchburg, VA 99 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 12 – Apr 15
- Rock Hill, SC 106 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 17 – Mar 19
- Charlottesville, VA 154 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 12 – Apr 17