LawnWeather

San Francisco, CA Lawn Care Calendar

In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in San Francisco between Jan 27 and Mar 1. Frost is uncommon here. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).

Typical lawn care dates in San Francisco

Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
Jan 27 – Mar 1
Spring fertilizer
Feb 22 – Mar 29
Overseeding & seeding
—
Fall fertilizer
from Jul 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 27 – Mar 1
Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing.Feb 22 – Mar 29
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 Jul 15

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

Month-by-month lawn care in San Francisco

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

Soil temperature in San Francisco by month

Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 53°F and peaks in September at 65°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 27.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
53°F54°F54°F57°F58°F61°F62°F63°F65°F64°F58°F53°F

San Francisco lawn timing, year by year

Over the last 10 years, soil in San Francisco reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 5 (2022) and as late as Mar 10 (2023): 64 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 14——
2024Jan 14——
2023Mar 10——
2022Jan 5——
2021Jan 31——
2020Jan 22——
2019Feb 27——
2018Mar 7——
2017Jan 9——
2016Jan 10——

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

Growing warm-season grass in San Francisco?

TaskTypical window
Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Jan 27 – Mar 1
FertilizerJul 25 – Jul 1
Seeding, sodding & pluggingJul 25 – Jul 1
Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Jul 1 – Jul 22

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply pre-emergent in San Francisco?

In a typical year, between Jan 27 and Mar 1. 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 San Francisco?

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

When is the last frost in San Francisco?

Frost does not occur in most years in San Francisco.

How long is the growing season in San Francisco?

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

Lawn care guides

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

More California lawn calendars

Nearby cities in other states