Westerly, RI Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Westerly between Apr 25 and May 15. The best time to overseed is between Aug 19 and Oct 8. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 13. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Westerly
| 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 25 – May 15 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | May 8 – Jun 12 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 19 – Oct 8 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Aug 23 – Nov 12 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Westerly. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Westerly
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MayCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- JuneSpring fertilizer
- JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AugustOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- OctoberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Westerly by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 33°F and peaks in July at 73°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Apr 25.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33°F | 33°F | 40°F | 47°F | 57°F | 66°F | 73°F | 72°F | 66°F | 57°F | 45°F | 36°F |
Westerly lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Westerly reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Apr 12 (2017) and as late as May 4 (2022): 22 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 13) and first fall frost (Nov 2), the growing season lasts about 203 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Apr 20 | Apr 10 | Nov 2 |
| 2024 | Apr 30 | Apr 27 | Nov 4 |
| 2023 | Apr 13 | Apr 10 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | May 4 | Apr 21 | Oct 30 |
| 2021 | Apr 29 | Apr 22 | Nov 4 |
| 2020 | May 2 | Apr 21 | Oct 31 |
| 2019 | Apr 15 | Apr 2 | Nov 9 |
| 2018 | May 2 | Apr 11 | Oct 22 |
| 2017 | Apr 12 | Mar 26 | Nov 9 |
| 2016 | Apr 19 | Apr 13 | Nov 1 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Westerly. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Westerly?
In a typical year, between Apr 25 and May 15. 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 Westerly?
Early fall, typically Aug 19 – Oct 8, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Westerly?
The median last spring frost is Apr 13 and the median first fall frost is Nov 2 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Westerly?
About 203 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 13 to the median first fall frost on Nov 2 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Rhode Island lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Hartford, CT 51 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 14 – May 6
- New Haven, CT 57 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 14 – May 8
- Worcester, MA 61 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 25 – May 13
- Springfield, MA 63 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 14 – May 7