Charlottesville, VA Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Charlottesville between Mar 12 and Apr 17. The best time to overseed is between Aug 28 and Oct 17. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 3. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Charlottesville
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Mar 12 – Apr 17 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Apr 10 – May 15 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 28 – Oct 17 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 21 – Nov 24 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Charlottesville. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Charlottesville
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- MaySpring 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 Charlottesville by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 37°F and peaks in July at 79°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 12.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37°F | 41°F | 48°F | 57°F | 65°F | 73°F | 79°F | 76°F | 71°F | 61°F | 49°F | 40°F |
Charlottesville lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Charlottesville reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 20 (2017) and as late as Apr 7 (2019): 46 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 3) and first fall frost (Nov 11), the growing season lasts about 222 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 13 | Apr 9 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Mar 5 | Mar 25 | Nov 22 |
| 2023 | Mar 24 | Apr 9 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | Mar 17 | Apr 2 | Nov 14 |
| 2021 | Mar 25 | Apr 3 | Nov 3 |
| 2020 | Mar 10 | Mar 8 | Nov 18 |
| 2019 | Apr 7 | Apr 3 | Nov 2 |
| 2018 | Feb 21 | Apr 10 | Oct 22 |
| 2017 | Feb 20 | Mar 24 | Nov 11 |
| 2016 | Mar 9 | Apr 11 | Nov 13 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Charlottesville. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Charlottesville?
In a typical year, between Mar 12 and Apr 17. 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 Charlottesville?
Early fall, typically Aug 28 – Oct 17, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Charlottesville?
The median last spring frost is Apr 3 and the median first fall frost is Nov 11 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Charlottesville?
About 222 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 3 to the median first fall frost on Nov 11 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Virginia lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Washington, DC 99 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 14 – Apr 15
- Rockville, MD 102 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 27 – Apr 21
- Frederick, MD 111 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 27 – Apr 19
- Hagerstown, MD 119 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 2 – Apr 24