Oklahoma City, OK Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Oklahoma City between Mar 7 and Mar 31. Seed or sod warm-season grass between May 5 and Aug 22. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 31. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Oklahoma City
| 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 7 – Mar 31 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | May 5 – Sep 24 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | May 5 – Aug 22 |
| 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 Oklahoma City. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Oklahoma City
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- 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 Oklahoma City by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 38°F and peaks in July at 83°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 7.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38°F | 41°F | 52°F | 59°F | 68°F | 78°F | 83°F | 82°F | 76°F | 65°F | 52°F | 44°F |
Oklahoma City lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Oklahoma City reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 18 (2016) and as late as Mar 20 (2019): 30 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 31) and first fall frost (Nov 5), the growing season lasts about 219 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 28 | Apr 7 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Feb 22 | Mar 29 | Nov 23 |
| 2023 | Mar 5 | Mar 20 | Oct 30 |
| 2022 | Mar 17 | Mar 13 | Oct 19 |
| 2021 | Mar 8 | Apr 21 | Nov 13 |
| 2020 | Mar 8 | Apr 18 | Oct 27 |
| 2019 | Mar 20 | Apr 1 | Oct 12 |
| 2018 | Mar 16 | Apr 17 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Feb 18 | Mar 16 | Oct 28 |
| 2016 | Feb 18 | Mar 29 | Nov 19 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Oklahoma City. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing cool-season grass in Oklahoma City?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Mar 7 – Mar 31 |
| Spring fertilizer | Mar 24 – Apr 28 |
| Overseeding & seeding | Aug 22 – Oct 11 |
| Fall fertilizer | Oct 6 – Nov 28 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Oklahoma City?
In a typical year, between Mar 7 and Mar 31. 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 Oklahoma City?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically May 5 – Aug 22, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Oklahoma City?
The median last spring frost is Mar 31 and the median first fall frost is Nov 5 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Oklahoma City?
About 219 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 31 to the median first fall frost on Nov 5 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Oklahoma lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Wichita, KS 154 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 20 – Apr 14
- Denton, TX 158 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 9
- McKinney, TX 165 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 9
- Frisco, TX 165 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 9