Dallas, TX Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Dallas between Feb 18 and Mar 3. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 30 and Sep 25. 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 Dallas
| 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 18 – Mar 3 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 30 – Oct 20 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 30 – Sep 25 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 19 – Nov 9 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Dallas. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Dallas
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)FertilizerSeeding, 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 Dallas by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 47°F and peaks in July at 87°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 18.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47°F | 51°F | 60°F | 66°F | 75°F | 83°F | 87°F | 87°F | 82°F | 71°F | 59°F | 52°F |
Dallas lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Dallas reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 8 (2019) and as late as Mar 3 (2022): 54 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 3), the growing season lasts about 286 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 26 | Feb 23 | Dec 3 |
| 2024 | Jan 30 | Feb 19 | — |
| 2023 | Feb 20 | Feb 3 | — |
| 2022 | Mar 3 | Mar 13 | Dec 23 |
| 2021 | Feb 24 | Feb 21 | — |
| 2020 | Mar 1 | Feb 28 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Jan 8 | Mar 7 | Oct 31 |
| 2018 | Feb 16 | Feb 13 | Nov 13 |
| 2017 | Jan 12 | Jan 9 | Dec 8 |
| 2016 | Jan 30 | Feb 5 | Dec 9 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Dallas. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Dallas?
In a typical year, between Feb 18 and Mar 3. 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 Dallas?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 30 – Sep 25, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Dallas?
The median last spring frost is Feb 20 and the median first fall frost is Dec 3 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Dallas?
About 286 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 20 to the median first fall frost on Dec 3 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Texas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Lawton, OK 155 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 25
- Texarkana, AR 166 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 13
- Norman, OK 173 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 3 – Mar 31
- Shreveport, LA 178 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1