El Paso, TX Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in El Paso between Feb 9 and Mar 5. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 4 and Sep 21. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 24. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in El Paso
| 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 9 – Mar 5 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 4 – Oct 17 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 4 – Sep 21 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 23 – Nov 13 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for El Paso. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in El Paso
- 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
- SeptemberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in El Paso by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 46°F and peaks in July at 86°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 9.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46°F | 52°F | 59°F | 67°F | 75°F | 85°F | 86°F | 84°F | 79°F | 70°F | 58°F | 50°F |
El Paso lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in El Paso reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 30 (2024) and as late as Feb 24 (2021): 25 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 24) and first fall frost (Nov 27), the growing season lasts about 276 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 3 | Feb 22 | — |
| 2024 | Jan 30 | Feb 13 | Dec 11 |
| 2023 | Feb 21 | Feb 18 | Dec 10 |
| 2022 | Feb 21 | Mar 13 | Nov 22 |
| 2021 | Feb 24 | Mar 4 | — |
| 2020 | Feb 17 | Feb 28 | Oct 27 |
| 2019 | Feb 1 | Feb 25 | Oct 31 |
| 2018 | Feb 2 | Feb 27 | Nov 13 |
| 2017 | Feb 4 | Feb 17 | Dec 8 |
| 2016 | Feb 13 | Feb 10 | Nov 30 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for El Paso. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in El Paso?
In a typical year, between Feb 9 and Mar 5. 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 El Paso?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 4 – Sep 21, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in El Paso?
The median last spring frost is Feb 24 and the median first fall frost is Nov 27 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in El Paso?
About 276 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 24 to the median first fall frost on Nov 27 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Texas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Las Cruces, NM 42 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 24 – Mar 16
- Roswell, NM 161 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 18
- Albuquerque, NM 230 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 25 – Apr 15
- Tucson, AZ 265 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 14