Raleigh, NC Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Raleigh between Feb 20 and Mar 20. The best time to overseed is between Aug 30 and Oct 19. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 25. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Raleigh
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Feb 20 – Mar 20 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Mar 13 – Apr 17 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 30 – Oct 19 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 25 – Dec 5 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Raleigh. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Raleigh
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- 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
- DecemberFall fertilizer
Soil temperature in Raleigh by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 42°F and peaks in July at 81°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 20.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42°F | 47°F | 52°F | 61°F | 69°F | 76°F | 81°F | 79°F | 74°F | 64°F | 52°F | 45°F |
Raleigh lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Raleigh reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 18 (2017) and as late as Mar 12 (2025): 53 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 25) and first fall frost (Nov 13), the growing season lasts about 233 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 12 | Mar 4 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Jan 26 | Feb 22 | Nov 22 |
| 2023 | Feb 15 | Mar 22 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | Feb 23 | Mar 30 | Nov 14 |
| 2021 | Mar 11 | Apr 3 | Nov 14 |
| 2020 | Mar 11 | Mar 9 | Nov 19 |
| 2019 | Feb 6 | Apr 3 | Nov 9 |
| 2018 | Feb 16 | Mar 26 | Nov 11 |
| 2017 | Jan 18 | Mar 23 | Nov 11 |
| 2016 | Mar 9 | Apr 10 | Nov 13 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Raleigh. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing warm-season grass in Raleigh?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Feb 20 – Mar 20 |
| Fertilizer | Apr 21 – Oct 2 |
| Seeding, sodding & plugging | Apr 21 – Aug 30 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) | Sep 25 – Oct 16 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Raleigh?
In a typical year, between Feb 20 and Mar 20. 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 Raleigh?
Early fall, typically Aug 30 – Oct 19, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Raleigh?
The median last spring frost is Mar 25 and the median first fall frost is Nov 13 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Raleigh?
About 233 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 25 to the median first fall frost on Nov 13 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More North Carolina lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Lynchburg, VA 116 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 12 – Apr 15
- Roanoke, VA 126 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 9 – Apr 5
- Richmond, VA 139 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 11 – Apr 5
- Myrtle Beach, SC 145 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 8 – Mar 1