Killeen, TX Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Killeen between Feb 19 and Mar 3. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 22 and Sep 18. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 22. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Killeen
| 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 3 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 22 – Oct 20 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 22 – Sep 18 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 17 – Nov 7 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Killeen. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Killeen
- 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 Killeen by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 48°F and peaks in August at 86°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48°F | 52°F | 61°F | 66°F | 74°F | 82°F | 85°F | 86°F | 80°F | 71°F | 60°F | 53°F |
Killeen lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Killeen reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 8 (2019) and as late as Mar 4 (2022): 55 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 22) and first fall frost (Dec 2), the growing season lasts about 283 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 26 | Feb 23 | Dec 2 |
| 2024 | Jan 29 | Feb 19 | — |
| 2023 | Feb 21 | Mar 20 | Dec 12 |
| 2022 | Mar 4 | Mar 13 | Nov 13 |
| 2021 | Feb 25 | 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 12 | Jan 27 | Dec 8 |
| 2016 | Jan 30 | Feb 8 | Nov 21 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Killeen. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Killeen?
In a typical year, between Feb 19 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 Killeen?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 22 – Sep 18, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Killeen?
The median last spring frost is Feb 22 and the median first fall frost is Dec 2 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Killeen?
About 283 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 22 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 244 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 25
- Shreveport, LA 253 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1
- Texarkana, AR 269 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 13
- Lake Charles, LA 275 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16