LawnWeather

Sacramento, CA Lawn Care Calendar

In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Sacramento between Feb 3 and Mar 13. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 8. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).

Typical lawn care dates in Sacramento

Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
Feb 3 – Mar 13
Spring fertilizer
Mar 6 – Apr 10
Overseeding & seeding
—
Fall fertilizer
from Sep 19
TaskTypical window
Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens.Feb 3 – Mar 13
Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing.Mar 6 – Apr 10
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 Sep 19

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

Month-by-month lawn care in Sacramento

  1. JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  2. FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
  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. SeptemberFall fertilizer
  10. OctoberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  11. NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  12. DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.

Soil temperature in Sacramento by month

Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in December at 48°F and peaks in July at 77°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 3.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
49°F51°F54°F60°F66°F73°F77°F77°F74°F66°F55°F48°F

Sacramento lawn timing, year by year

Over the last 10 years, soil in Sacramento reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 10 (2019) and as late as Mar 13 (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 20——
2024Jan 19——
2023Mar 13Feb 19—
2022Feb 8Feb 26Nov 21
2021Feb 1Jan 27—
2020Jan 25——
2019Jan 10Feb 8—
2018Mar 9Mar 6—
2017Feb 4Jan 7Dec 13
2016Jan 18Jan 2Dec 18

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

Growing warm-season grass in Sacramento?

TaskTypical window
Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Feb 3 – Mar 13
FertilizerMay 4 – Sep 30
Seeding, sodding & pluggingMay 4 – Aug 21
Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Sep 19 – Oct 10

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply pre-emergent in Sacramento?

In a typical year, between Feb 3 and Mar 13. 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 Sacramento?

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

When is the last frost in Sacramento?

The median last spring frost is Feb 8 (2016–2025).

How long is the growing season in Sacramento?

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

Lawn care guides

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

More California lawn calendars

Nearby cities in other states