Medford, OR Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Medford between Apr 2 and May 3. The best time to overseed is between Aug 8 and Sep 27. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 21. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Medford
| 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 2 – May 3 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Apr 26 – May 31 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 8 – Sep 27 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 5 – Nov 18 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Medford. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Medford
- 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
- JuneNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AugustOverseeding & seeding
- SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- OctoberFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Medford 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 74°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Apr 2.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40°F | 42°F | 46°F | 52°F | 59°F | 66°F | 74°F | 74°F | 67°F | 56°F | 46°F | 40°F |
Medford lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Medford reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 29 (2024) and as late as Apr 23 (2023): 84 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 21) and first fall frost (Oct 22), the growing season lasts about 184 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 25 | Mar 9 | Nov 22 |
| 2024 | Jan 29 | Apr 18 | Oct 19 |
| 2023 | Apr 23 | Apr 21 | Oct 28 |
| 2022 | Mar 24 | Apr 16 | Nov 10 |
| 2021 | Apr 2 | Apr 28 | Oct 12 |
| 2020 | Apr 9 | May 5 | Oct 23 |
| 2019 | Apr 2 | May 3 | Oct 3 |
| 2018 | Apr 6 | Apr 20 | Oct 17 |
| 2017 | Mar 13 | Apr 16 | Oct 4 |
| 2016 | Apr 1 | Apr 27 | Dec 2 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Medford. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Medford?
In a typical year, between Apr 2 and May 3. 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 Medford?
Early fall, typically Aug 8 – Sep 27, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Medford?
The median last spring frost is Apr 21 and the median first fall frost is Oct 22 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Medford?
About 184 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 21 to the median first fall frost on Oct 22 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Oregon lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Redding, CA 123 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 28
- Vancouver, WA 229 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 4 – May 9
- Reno, NV 251 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 7 – May 4
- Santa Rosa, CA 269 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 12 – Mar 28