LawnWeather

Los Angeles, CA Lawn Care Calendar

In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Los Angeles between Jan 29 and Feb 10. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 16 and Jul 1. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).

Typical lawn care dates in Los Angeles

Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
Jan 29 – Feb 10
Fertilizer
Apr 16 – Sep 24
Seeding, sodding & plugging
Apr 16 – Jul 1
Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
Sep 24 – Oct 15
TaskTypical window
Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens.Jan 29 – Feb 10
FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost.Apr 16 – Sep 24
Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost.Apr 16 – Jul 1
Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F.Sep 24 – Oct 15

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

Month-by-month lawn care in Los Angeles

  1. JanuaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
  2. FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
  3. MarchNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  4. AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
  5. MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
  6. JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
  7. JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
  8. AugustFertilizer
  9. SeptemberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
  10. OctoberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
  11. NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  12. DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.

Soil temperature in Los Angeles by month

Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 57°F and peaks in August at 75°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 29.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
57°F59°F59°F63°F65°F69°F74°F75°F74°F70°F64°F59°F

Los Angeles lawn timing, year by year

Over the last 10 years, soil in Los Angeles reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 1 (2022) and as late as Mar 2 (2023): 60 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
2025Jan 31——
2024Feb 9——
2023Mar 2——
2022Jan 1——
2021Jan 27——
2020Jan 15——
2019Feb 24——
2018Feb 25——
2017Jan 26——
2016Jan 10——

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

Growing cool-season grass in Los Angeles?

TaskTypical window
Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Jan 29 – Feb 10
Spring fertilizerFeb 3 – Mar 10
Overseeding & seeding—
Fall fertilizerfrom Sep 26

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply pre-emergent in Los Angeles?

In a typical year, between Jan 29 and Feb 10. 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 Los Angeles?

Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 16 – Jul 1, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.

When is the last frost in Los Angeles?

Frost does not occur in most years in Los Angeles.

How long is the growing season in Los Angeles?

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

Lawn care guides

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

More California lawn calendars

Nearby cities in other states