Amarillo, TX Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Amarillo between Mar 15 and Apr 14. Seed or sod warm-season grass between May 15 and Aug 16. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 15. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Amarillo
| 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 15 – Apr 14 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | May 15 – Sep 18 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | May 15 – Aug 16 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Sep 23 – Oct 14 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Amarillo. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Amarillo
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- OctoberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Amarillo by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 37°F and peaks in July at 80°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 15.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37°F | 40°F | 49°F | 56°F | 65°F | 75°F | 80°F | 79°F | 72°F | 61°F | 49°F | 42°F |
Amarillo lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Amarillo reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 22 (2024) and as late as Mar 31 (2023): 37 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 15) and first fall frost (Oct 30), the growing season lasts about 198 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 12 | Apr 7 | Oct 30 |
| 2024 | Feb 22 | Mar 28 | Nov 1 |
| 2023 | Mar 31 | Apr 7 | Oct 29 |
| 2022 | Mar 27 | Apr 14 | Nov 5 |
| 2021 | Mar 9 | Apr 22 | Nov 4 |
| 2020 | Mar 10 | Apr 18 | Oct 24 |
| 2019 | Mar 24 | Apr 15 | Oct 11 |
| 2018 | Mar 23 | Apr 16 | Oct 15 |
| 2017 | Mar 17 | May 1 | Oct 28 |
| 2016 | Mar 3 | Apr 2 | Nov 12 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Amarillo. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Amarillo?
In a typical year, between Mar 15 and Apr 14. 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 Amarillo?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically May 15 – Aug 16, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Amarillo?
The median last spring frost is Apr 15 and the median first fall frost is Oct 30 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Amarillo?
About 198 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 15 to the median first fall frost on Oct 30 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Texas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Garden City, KS 197 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 7 – May 1
- Roswell, NM 199 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 18
- Lawton, OK 200 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 25
- Santa Fe, NM 234 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 19 – May 14