Tulsa, OK Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Tulsa between Mar 5 and Mar 30. The best time to overseed is between Aug 22 and Oct 11. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 26. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Tulsa
| 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 5 – Mar 30 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Mar 23 – Apr 27 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 22 – Oct 11 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Oct 7 – Nov 30 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Tulsa. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Tulsa
- 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 & seeding
- OctoberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Tulsa 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 5.
| 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 |
Tulsa lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Tulsa reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 18 (2017) and as late as Mar 19 (2019): 29 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 26) and first fall frost (Nov 5), the growing season lasts about 224 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 27 | Mar 7 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Feb 22 | Mar 28 | Nov 26 |
| 2023 | Mar 1 | 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 19 | Apr 1 | Oct 31 |
| 2018 | Mar 16 | Apr 17 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Feb 18 | Mar 16 | Oct 28 |
| 2016 | Feb 19 | Mar 21 | Nov 19 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Tulsa. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing warm-season grass in Tulsa?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Mar 5 – Mar 30 |
| Fertilizer | Apr 30 – Sep 24 |
| Seeding, sodding & plugging | Apr 30 – Aug 22 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) | Oct 7 – Oct 28 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Tulsa?
In a typical year, between Mar 5 and Mar 30. 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 Tulsa?
Early fall, typically Aug 22 – Oct 11, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Tulsa?
The median last spring frost is Mar 26 and the median first fall frost is Nov 5 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Tulsa?
About 224 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 26 to the median first fall frost on Nov 5 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Oklahoma lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Fayetteville, AR 102 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 11 – Apr 9
- Fort Smith, AR 103 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 28 – Mar 25
- Joplin, MO 104 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 11 – Apr 13
- Wichita, KS 130 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 20 – Apr 14