Waco, TX Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Waco between Feb 19 and Mar 3. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 9 and Sep 14. 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 Waco
| 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. | Apr 9 – Oct 17 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 9 – Sep 14 |
| 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 Waco. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Waco
- 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 Waco 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47°F | 51°F | 60°F | 65°F | 74°F | 82°F | 86°F | 86°F | 80°F | 70°F | 59°F | 52°F |
Waco lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Waco 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 (Nov 28), the growing season lasts about 279 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 26 | Feb 23 | Dec 2 |
| 2024 | Jan 30 | Feb 19 | Dec 12 |
| 2023 | Feb 21 | Mar 20 | Dec 11 |
| 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 14 |
| 2017 | Jan 12 | Jan 27 | Nov 23 |
| 2016 | Jan 30 | Feb 8 | Nov 20 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Waco. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Waco?
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 Waco?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 9 – Sep 14, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Waco?
The median last spring frost is Feb 22 and the median first fall frost is Nov 28 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Waco?
About 279 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 22 to the median first fall frost on Nov 28 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Texas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Shreveport, LA 210 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1
- Lawton, OK 223 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 1 – Mar 25
- Texarkana, AR 223 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 13
- Lake Charles, LA 250 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16