Fort Worth, TX Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Fort Worth between Feb 19 and Mar 8. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 2 and Sep 18. 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 Fort Worth
| 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 19 – Mar 8 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 2 – Oct 20 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 2 – Sep 18 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 18 – Nov 8 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Fort Worth. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Fort Worth
- 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 Fort Worth 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 87°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 19.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46°F | 50°F | 60°F | 65°F | 74°F | 83°F | 87°F | 87°F | 81°F | 71°F | 59°F | 52°F |
Fort Worth lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Fort Worth 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 2), the growing season lasts about 285 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 26 | Feb 23 | Dec 2 |
| 2024 | Jan 31 | Feb 19 | — |
| 2023 | Feb 21 | Feb 18 | Nov 27 |
| 2022 | Mar 3 | Mar 13 | Nov 20 |
| 2021 | Feb 24 | Feb 21 | Dec 12 |
| 2020 | Mar 1 | Feb 28 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Jan 8 | Mar 7 | Oct 31 |
| 2018 | Feb 16 | Feb 13 | Nov 13 |
| 2017 | Jan 16 | Jan 9 | Dec 8 |
| 2016 | Jan 30 | Feb 5 | Dec 9 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Fort Worth. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Fort Worth?
In a typical year, between Feb 19 and Mar 8. 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 Fort Worth?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 2 – Sep 18, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Fort Worth?
The median last spring frost is Feb 20 and the median first fall frost is Dec 2 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Fort Worth?
About 285 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 20 to the median first fall frost on Dec 2 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Texas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Lawton, OK 141 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 25
- Norman, OK 170 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 3 – Mar 31
- Oklahoma City, OK 188 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 7 – Mar 31
- Texarkana, AR 196 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 13