Austin, TX Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Austin between Feb 3 and Feb 26. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 22 and Sep 26. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 20. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Austin
| 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 3 – Feb 26 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 22 – Oct 24 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 22 – Sep 26 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 25 – Nov 15 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Austin. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Austin
- 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 Austin by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 51°F and peaks in July at 86°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 3.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51°F | 54°F | 63°F | 68°F | 76°F | 83°F | 86°F | 86°F | 82°F | 73°F | 62°F | 55°F |
Austin lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Austin reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 7 (2019) and as late as Feb 26 (2025): 50 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 20) and first fall frost (Dec 5), the growing season lasts about 288 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 26 | Feb 23 | — |
| 2024 | Jan 26 | Feb 19 | Dec 12 |
| 2023 | Feb 7 | Feb 19 | Dec 11 |
| 2022 | Feb 15 | Mar 14 | Dec 18 |
| 2021 | Feb 24 | Feb 21 | — |
| 2020 | Feb 17 | Feb 28 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Jan 7 | Mar 7 | Nov 1 |
| 2018 | Jan 27 | Feb 13 | Nov 14 |
| 2017 | Jan 11 | Jan 9 | Dec 8 |
| 2016 | Jan 30 | Feb 8 | Nov 20 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Austin. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Austin?
In a typical year, between Feb 3 and Feb 26. 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 Austin?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 22 – Sep 26, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Austin?
The median last spring frost is Feb 20 and the median first fall frost is Dec 5 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Austin?
About 288 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 20 to the median first fall frost on Dec 5 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Texas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Lake Charles, LA 270 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16
- Shreveport, LA 282 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1
- Lawton, OK 302 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 25
- Texarkana, AR 308 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 13