Tucson, AZ Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Tucson between Feb 1 and Feb 14. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 2 and Oct 12. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 16. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Tucson
| 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 1 – Feb 14 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 2 – Nov 2 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 2 – Oct 12 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 26 – Nov 16 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Tucson. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Tucson
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- OctoberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & pluggingFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Tucson by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 52°F and peaks in July at 89°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 1.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52°F | 55°F | 60°F | 68°F | 75°F | 86°F | 89°F | 88°F | 84°F | 75°F | 63°F | 55°F |
Tucson lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Tucson reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 9 (2019) and as late as Mar 2 (2018): 52 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 16) and first fall frost (Dec 18), the growing season lasts about 305 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 2 | Feb 1 | — |
| 2024 | Jan 18 | Jan 14 | — |
| 2023 | Feb 4 | Apr 6 | — |
| 2022 | Feb 9 | Feb 26 | Dec 14 |
| 2021 | Jan 29 | Mar 2 | Dec 18 |
| 2020 | Feb 9 | Feb 7 | — |
| 2019 | Jan 9 | Feb 25 | Dec 17 |
| 2018 | Mar 2 | Feb 26 | Dec 29 |
| 2017 | Jan 31 | Jan 30 | Dec 22 |
| 2016 | Jan 19 | Feb 6 | Dec 1 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Tucson. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Tucson?
In a typical year, between Feb 1 and Feb 14. 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 Tucson?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 2 – Oct 12, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Tucson?
The median last spring frost is Feb 16 and the median first fall frost is Dec 18 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Tucson?
About 305 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 16 to the median first fall frost on Dec 18 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Arizona lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Las Cruces, NM 245 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 24 – Mar 16
- El Paso, TX 265 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 9 – Mar 5
- Albuquerque, NM 318 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 25 – Apr 15
- Farmington, NM 349 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 10 – May 5