Fayetteville, AR Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Fayetteville between Mar 11 and Apr 9. The best time to overseed is between Aug 17 and Oct 6. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 10. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Fayetteville
| 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 11 – Apr 9 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Apr 2 – May 7 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 17 – Oct 6 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 18 – Nov 29 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Fayetteville. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Fayetteville
- 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 Fayetteville by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 36°F and peaks in July at 79°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 11.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 41°F | 50°F | 57°F | 66°F | 75°F | 79°F | 78°F | 73°F | 62°F | 50°F | 42°F |
Fayetteville lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Fayetteville reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 19 (2017) and as late as Mar 24 (2019): 33 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 10) and first fall frost (Oct 31), the growing season lasts about 204 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 12 | Apr 8 | Nov 2 |
| 2024 | Feb 23 | Apr 5 | Oct 16 |
| 2023 | Mar 6 | Mar 29 | Oct 30 |
| 2022 | Mar 17 | Apr 14 | Oct 18 |
| 2021 | Mar 10 | Apr 22 | Nov 6 |
| 2020 | Mar 10 | Apr 18 | Oct 30 |
| 2019 | Mar 24 | Apr 12 | Oct 12 |
| 2018 | Mar 24 | Apr 17 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Feb 19 | Mar 16 | Oct 28 |
| 2016 | Mar 7 | Apr 3 | Nov 13 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Fayetteville. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing warm-season grass in Fayetteville?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Mar 11 – Apr 9 |
| Fertilizer | May 13 – Sep 19 |
| Seeding, sodding & plugging | May 13 – Aug 17 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) | Sep 18 – Oct 9 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Fayetteville?
In a typical year, between Mar 11 and Apr 9. 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 Fayetteville?
Early fall, typically Aug 17 – Oct 6, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Fayetteville?
The median last spring frost is Apr 10 and the median first fall frost is Oct 31 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Fayetteville?
About 204 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 10 to the median first fall frost on Oct 31 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
- When to apply pre-emergent
- Lawn fertilizer schedule
- When to overseed
- Soil temperature for lawns
- Fall lawn care checklist
Growing vegetables too? See the Fayetteville planting calendarfor when to start seeds and plant outside.
More Arkansas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Joplin, MO 73 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 11 – Apr 13
- Broken Arrow, OK 91 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 4 – Mar 30
- Springfield, MO 93 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 18 – Apr 18
- Tulsa, OK 102 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Mar 30