Salt Lake City, UT Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Salt Lake City between Apr 6 and May 3. The best time to overseed is between Aug 12 and Oct 1. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 7. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Salt Lake City
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Apr 6 – May 3 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Apr 26 – May 31 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 12 – Oct 1 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 19 – Nov 8 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Salt Lake City. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Salt Lake City
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- MayCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- JuneNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AugustOverseeding & seeding
- SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- OctoberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Salt Lake City by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 32°F and peaks in July at 81°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Apr 6.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32°F | 36°F | 44°F | 50°F | 59°F | 72°F | 81°F | 79°F | 70°F | 55°F | 44°F | 35°F |
Salt Lake City lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Salt Lake City reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Mar 15 (2017) and as late as Apr 28 (2023): 44 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 (Apr 7) and first fall frost (Oct 26), the growing season lasts about 202 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 26 | Apr 3 | Oct 28 |
| 2024 | Apr 13 | Apr 8 | Nov 4 |
| 2023 | Apr 28 | Apr 20 | Oct 27 |
| 2022 | Mar 26 | Apr 14 | Oct 28 |
| 2021 | Apr 4 | Apr 2 | Oct 15 |
| 2020 | Apr 7 | Apr 15 | Oct 23 |
| 2019 | Apr 5 | Apr 1 | Oct 11 |
| 2018 | Apr 6 | Apr 4 | Oct 15 |
| 2017 | Mar 15 | Apr 9 | Oct 15 |
| 2016 | Apr 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 17 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Salt Lake City. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Salt Lake City?
In a typical year, between Apr 6 and May 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 Salt Lake City?
Early fall, typically Aug 12 – Oct 1, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Salt Lake City?
The median last spring frost is Apr 7 and the median first fall frost is Oct 26 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Salt Lake City?
About 202 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 7 to the median first fall frost on Oct 26 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Utah lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Pocatello, ID 149 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 29 – May 22
- Idaho Falls, ID 189 miles away · crabgrass preventer May 3 – Jun 6
- Elko, NV 203 miles away · crabgrass preventer May 2 – May 28
- Grand Junction, CO 212 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 6 – May 1