Abilene, TX Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Abilene between Feb 21 and Mar 13. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 25 and Aug 22. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 22. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Abilene
| 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 21 – Mar 13 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 25 – Sep 24 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 25 – Aug 22 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 13 – Nov 3 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Abilene. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Abilene
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- 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)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Abilene by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 44°F and peaks in July at 85°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 21.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44°F | 47°F | 57°F | 63°F | 73°F | 81°F | 85°F | 85°F | 78°F | 68°F | 56°F | 49°F |
Abilene lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Abilene reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 21 (2017) and as late as Mar 4 (2022): 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 (Mar 22) and first fall frost (Nov 5), the growing season lasts about 228 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 26 | Mar 21 | Oct 31 |
| 2024 | Jan 31 | Mar 26 | Nov 27 |
| 2023 | Feb 27 | Mar 20 | Oct 31 |
| 2022 | Mar 4 | Mar 25 | Nov 12 |
| 2021 | Mar 4 | Apr 21 | Nov 27 |
| 2020 | Mar 1 | Mar 1 | Oct 27 |
| 2019 | Feb 2 | Mar 7 | Oct 12 |
| 2018 | Feb 16 | Apr 15 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Jan 21 | Mar 3 | Oct 28 |
| 2016 | Feb 11 | Mar 21 | Nov 19 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Abilene. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Abilene?
In a typical year, between Feb 21 and Mar 13. 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 Abilene?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 25 – Aug 22, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Abilene?
The median last spring frost is Mar 22 and the median first fall frost is Nov 5 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Abilene?
About 228 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 22 to the median first fall frost on Nov 5 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Texas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Lawton, OK 167 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 25
- Norman, OK 232 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 3 – Mar 31
- Oklahoma City, OK 244 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 7 – Mar 31
- Roswell, NM 285 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 18