Soil temperature map

Soil temperature at your address

The map shows cities. For your own lawn, enter a ZIP code: you'll get the reading there, the week's forecast and this year's lawn windows.

What soil temperature means for your lawn

• 50°F, rising in spring: put down crabgrass preventer.
• 55°F and rising: crabgrass starts to sprout; feed cool-season lawns.
• 65°F and up: plant, sod and feed warm-season grass.
• Falling below 70°F in late summer: fall pre-emergent for winter weeds in warm-season lawns.
• Falling toward 45°F in fall: last feeding for cool-season lawns.

More in Soil temperature for lawns and When to apply pre-emergent.

Soil temperature today by city

Frequently asked questions

What soil temperature is right for pre-emergent?

Put down crabgrass preventer when soil at 4 inches reaches 50°F, and before it stays above 55°F, when crabgrass seed starts to sprout.

When is soil warm enough to plant grass seed?

Cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass) sprouts best in soil between 50°F and 65°F, which is why early fall is the best time to seed it. Warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, centipede) needs soil above 65°F.

How are these soil temperatures measured?

They are estimates: a 5-day average of air temperature, which tracks soil temperature 4 inches under grass. The readings use PRISM daily temperature data from Oregon State University and the National Weather Service forecast. Real soil can differ by a few degrees with sun, shade and moisture.