McKinney, TX Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in McKinney between Feb 19 and Mar 9. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 22 and Aug 29. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 27. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in McKinney
| 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 9 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 22 – Oct 1 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 22 – Aug 29 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 13 – Nov 3 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for McKinney. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in McKinney
- 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
- SeptemberFertilizer
- OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in McKinney by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 44°F and peaks in July at 85°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44°F | 48°F | 58°F | 63°F | 72°F | 81°F | 85°F | 85°F | 79°F | 69°F | 57°F | 50°F |
McKinney lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in McKinney reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 20 (2017) and as late as Mar 4 (2022): 43 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 27) and first fall frost (Nov 12), the growing season lasts about 258 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 27 | Feb 23 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Jan 31 | Feb 19 | Dec 6 |
| 2023 | Feb 21 | Mar 20 | Nov 1 |
| 2022 | Mar 4 | Mar 13 | Nov 13 |
| 2021 | Feb 27 | Feb 21 | Nov 27 |
| 2020 | Mar 1 | Feb 28 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Feb 3 | Mar 7 | Oct 31 |
| 2018 | Feb 16 | Feb 22 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Jan 20 | Feb 26 | Oct 29 |
| 2016 | Feb 12 | Feb 27 | Nov 20 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for McKinney. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in McKinney?
In a typical year, between Feb 19 and Mar 9. 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 McKinney?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 22 – Aug 29, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in McKinney?
The median last spring frost is Feb 27 and the median first fall frost is Nov 12 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in McKinney?
About 258 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 27 to the median first fall frost on Nov 12 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Texas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Lawton, OK 140 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 25
- Norman, OK 147 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 3 – Mar 31
- Texarkana, AR 150 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 13
- Oklahoma City, OK 165 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 7 – Mar 31