Fort Smith, AR Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Fort Smith between Feb 28 and Mar 25. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 29 and Aug 27. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 21. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Fort Smith
| 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 28 – Mar 25 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 29 – Sep 29 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 29 – Aug 27 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 11 – Nov 1 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Fort Smith. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Fort Smith
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizer
- OctoberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Fort Smith by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 40°F and peaks in July at 83°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 28.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40°F | 44°F | 54°F | 61°F | 70°F | 79°F | 83°F | 82°F | 77°F | 66°F | 53°F | 45°F |
Fort Smith lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Fort Smith reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 2 (2024) and as late as Mar 19 (2019): 45 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 21) and first fall frost (Nov 10), the growing season lasts about 234 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 27 | Mar 7 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Feb 2 | Mar 20 | Nov 26 |
| 2023 | Feb 27 | Mar 21 | Oct 31 |
| 2022 | Mar 17 | Apr 1 | Oct 19 |
| 2021 | Mar 9 | Apr 22 | Nov 13 |
| 2020 | Mar 2 | Mar 1 | Nov 30 |
| 2019 | Mar 19 | Mar 17 | Nov 1 |
| 2018 | Mar 1 | Apr 16 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Feb 19 | Mar 15 | Oct 28 |
| 2016 | Feb 19 | Mar 22 | Nov 20 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Fort Smith. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing cool-season grass in Fort Smith?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Feb 28 – Mar 25 |
| Spring fertilizer | Mar 18 – Apr 22 |
| Overseeding & seeding | Aug 27 – Oct 16 |
| Fall fertilizer | Oct 11 – Dec 1 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Fort Smith?
In a typical year, between Feb 28 and Mar 25. 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 Fort Smith?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 29 – Aug 27, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Fort Smith?
The median last spring frost is Mar 21 and the median first fall frost is Nov 10 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Fort Smith?
About 234 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 21 to the median first fall frost on Nov 10 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
- When to apply pre-emergent
- Lawn fertilizer schedule
- Cool-season vs. warm-season grass
- Soil temperature for lawns
- Fall lawn care checklist
Growing vegetables too? See the Fort Smith planting calendarfor when to start seeds and plant outside.
More Arkansas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Broken Arrow, OK 90 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 4 – Mar 30
- Tulsa, OK 103 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Mar 30
- Joplin, MO 117 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 11 – Apr 13
- Springfield, MO 140 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 18 – Apr 18