Chattanooga, TN Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Chattanooga between Mar 1 and Mar 16. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 25 and Aug 24. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 21. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Chattanooga
| 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 1 – Mar 16 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 25 – Sep 26 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 25 – Aug 24 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 5 – Oct 26 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Chattanooga. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Chattanooga
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- 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 Chattanooga by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 42°F and peaks in July at 81°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 1.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42°F | 47°F | 54°F | 61°F | 70°F | 77°F | 81°F | 80°F | 75°F | 65°F | 53°F | 45°F |
Chattanooga lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Chattanooga reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 14 (2017) and as late as Mar 11 (2019): 56 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 21) and first fall frost (Nov 7), the growing season lasts about 231 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 4 | Mar 22 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Mar 3 | Mar 20 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Feb 21 | Mar 22 | Nov 1 |
| 2022 | Mar 3 | Mar 14 | Oct 20 |
| 2021 | Feb 26 | Apr 3 | Nov 14 |
| 2020 | Mar 10 | Mar 8 | Nov 3 |
| 2019 | Mar 11 | Mar 20 | Nov 1 |
| 2018 | Feb 16 | Apr 17 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Jan 14 | Mar 17 | Oct 30 |
| 2016 | Mar 9 | Mar 5 | Nov 21 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Chattanooga. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing cool-season grass in Chattanooga?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Mar 1 – Mar 16 |
| Spring fertilizer | Mar 9 – Apr 13 |
| Overseeding & seeding | Aug 24 – Oct 13 |
| Fall fertilizer | Oct 5 – Dec 1 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Chattanooga?
In a typical year, between Mar 1 and Mar 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 Chattanooga?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 25 – Aug 24, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Chattanooga?
The median last spring frost is Mar 21 and the median first fall frost is Nov 7 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Chattanooga?
About 231 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 21 to the median first fall frost on Nov 7 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Tennessee lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Huntsville, AL 76 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 21 – Mar 15
- Marietta, GA 87 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 22 – Mar 12
- Alpharetta, GA 89 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 22 – Mar 12
- Atlanta, GA 104 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 16 – Mar 12