Charleston, SC Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Charleston between Feb 4 and Feb 16. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 27 and Sep 19. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 10. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Charleston
| 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 4 – Feb 16 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 27 – Oct 16 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 27 – Sep 19 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 12 – Nov 2 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Charleston. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Charleston
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Charleston by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 50°F and peaks in July at 83°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 4.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50°F | 54°F | 60°F | 66°F | 74°F | 79°F | 83°F | 82°F | 78°F | 70°F | 60°F | 53°F |
Charleston lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Charleston reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 13 (2017) and as late as Feb 24 (2021): 42 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 (Feb 10) and first fall frost (Dec 1), the growing season lasts about 294 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jan 30 | Feb 22 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Jan 25 | Jan 22 | Dec 4 |
| 2023 | Jan 18 | Jan 15 | — |
| 2022 | Feb 16 | Mar 13 | Dec 24 |
| 2021 | Feb 24 | Feb 5 | Nov 25 |
| 2020 | Feb 4 | Mar 1 | Dec 2 |
| 2019 | Feb 4 | Feb 1 | Nov 13 |
| 2018 | Feb 7 | Feb 4 | Nov 28 |
| 2017 | Jan 13 | Mar 16 | Dec 10 |
| 2016 | Feb 21 | Feb 15 | — |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Charleston. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Charleston?
In a typical year, between Feb 4 and Feb 16. 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 Charleston?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 27 – Sep 19, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Charleston?
The median last spring frost is Feb 10 and the median first fall frost is Dec 1 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Charleston?
About 294 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 10 to the median first fall frost on Dec 1 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More South Carolina lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Savannah, GA 83 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 28 – Feb 14
- Augusta, GA 127 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 5 – Mar 1
- Wilmington, NC 152 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 10 – Mar 7
- Fayetteville, NC 168 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 11 – Mar 15