Tuscaloosa, AL Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Tuscaloosa between Feb 6 and Mar 6. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 30 and Sep 1. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 16. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Tuscaloosa
| 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 6 – Mar 6 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 30 – Oct 4 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 30 – Sep 1 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 12 – Nov 2 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Tuscaloosa. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Tuscaloosa
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)FertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- 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 Tuscaloosa by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 46°F and peaks in July at 82°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 6.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 46°F | 51°F | 58°F | 63°F | 72°F | 79°F | 82°F | 81°F | 78°F | 68°F | 56°F | 49°F |
Tuscaloosa lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Tuscaloosa reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 13 (2017) and as late as Feb 26 (2021): 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 (Mar 16) and first fall frost (Nov 15), the growing season lasts about 244 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 2 | Mar 22 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Feb 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Feb 8 | Mar 22 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | Feb 22 | Mar 15 | Oct 19 |
| 2021 | Feb 26 | Apr 2 | Nov 14 |
| 2020 | Feb 4 | Mar 1 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Feb 4 | Mar 8 | Nov 1 |
| 2018 | Feb 14 | Mar 16 | Nov 15 |
| 2017 | Jan 13 | Mar 16 | Nov 20 |
| 2016 | Feb 1 | Feb 28 | Nov 20 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Tuscaloosa. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Tuscaloosa?
In a typical year, between Feb 6 and Mar 6. 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 Tuscaloosa?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 30 – Sep 1, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Tuscaloosa?
The median last spring frost is Mar 16 and the median first fall frost is Nov 15 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Tuscaloosa?
About 244 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 16 to the median first fall frost on Nov 15 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Alabama lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Tupelo, MS 97 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 18 – Mar 13
- Columbus, GA 159 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 2 – Mar 2
- Jackson, MS 164 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1
- Hattiesburg, MS 164 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 4 – Feb 25