Little Rock, AR Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Little Rock between Feb 28 and Mar 19. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 27 and Aug 25. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 18. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Little Rock
| 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 19 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 27 – Sep 27 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 27 – Aug 25 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 10 – Oct 31 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Little Rock. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Little Rock
- 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)
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Little Rock by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 41°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41°F | 45°F | 54°F | 61°F | 70°F | 79°F | 83°F | 81°F | 77°F | 66°F | 53°F | 45°F |
Little Rock lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Little Rock reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 19 (2017) and as late as Mar 12 (2019): 21 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 18) and first fall frost (Nov 8), the growing season lasts about 235 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 27 | Mar 21 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Feb 22 | Mar 19 | Nov 29 |
| 2023 | Feb 21 | Mar 21 | Nov 1 |
| 2022 | Mar 4 | Mar 14 | Oct 19 |
| 2021 | Mar 10 | Mar 7 | Nov 5 |
| 2020 | Mar 2 | Feb 28 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Mar 12 | Mar 7 | Nov 1 |
| 2018 | Feb 28 | Apr 8 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Feb 19 | Mar 16 | Oct 28 |
| 2016 | Feb 20 | Mar 22 | Nov 20 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Little Rock. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing cool-season grass in Little Rock?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Feb 28 – Mar 19 |
| Spring fertilizer | Mar 12 – Apr 16 |
| Overseeding & seeding | Aug 25 – Oct 14 |
| Fall fertilizer | Oct 10 – Dec 2 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Little Rock?
In a typical year, between Feb 28 and Mar 19. 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 Little Rock?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 27 – Aug 25, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Little Rock?
The median last spring frost is Mar 18 and the median first fall frost is Nov 8 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Little Rock?
About 235 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 18 to the median first fall frost on Nov 8 (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 Little Rock planting calendarfor when to start seeds and plant outside.
More Arkansas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Memphis, TN 130 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 28 – Mar 18
- Southaven, MS 130 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 27 – Mar 18
- Monroe, LA 155 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1
- Shreveport, LA 175 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1