LawnWeather

Fresno, CA Lawn Care Calendar

In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Fresno between Jan 25 and Mar 6. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 20. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).

Typical lawn care dates in Fresno

Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
Jan 25 – Mar 6
Spring fertilizer
Feb 27 – Apr 3
Overseeding & seeding
—
Fall fertilizer
from Oct 10
TaskTypical window
Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens.Jan 25 – Mar 6
Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing.Feb 27 – Apr 3
Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost.—
Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F.from Oct 10

Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Fresno. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.

Month-by-month lawn care in Fresno

  1. JanuaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
  2. FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
  3. MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
  4. AprilSpring fertilizer
  5. MayNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  6. JuneNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  7. JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  8. AugustNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  9. SeptemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  10. OctoberFall fertilizer
  11. NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  12. DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.

Soil temperature in Fresno by month

Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 49°F and peaks in July at 84°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 25.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
49°F52°F56°F62°F69°F78°F84°F83°F78°F68°F57°F49°F

Fresno lawn timing, year by year

Over the last 10 years, soil in Fresno reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 8 (2019) and as late as Mar 11 (2023): 62 days apart. A fixed calendar date can't follow that, which is why the report above uses this year's soil temperature.

YearCrabgrass window openedLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2025Feb 2——
2024Jan 20Jan 9—
2023Mar 11Feb 17—
2022Jan 24Feb 25Dec 18
2021Feb 2—Dec 20
2020Jan 25Feb 6—
2019Jan 8Feb 23—
2018Mar 8Feb 25—
2017Jan 9Feb 25Dec 6
2016Jan 17Feb 4Dec 7

Estimated from daily temperatures for Fresno. A dash means it didn't happen that year.

Growing warm-season grass in Fresno?

TaskTypical window
Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Jan 25 – Mar 6
FertilizerApr 24 – Oct 22
Seeding, sodding & pluggingApr 24 – Sep 23
Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Oct 10 – Oct 31

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply pre-emergent in Fresno?

In a typical year, between Jan 25 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 Fresno?

It depends on your grass type and this year’s soil temperature.

When is the last frost in Fresno?

The median last spring frost is Feb 20 (2016–2025).

How long is the growing season in Fresno?

Frost is uncommon in Fresno, so cool spells rather than freezes set the length of the season.

Lawn care guides

Growing vegetables too? See the Fresno planting calendarfor when to start seeds and plant outside.

More California lawn calendars

Nearby cities in other states