LawnWeather

Santa Rosa, CA Lawn Care Calendar

In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Santa Rosa between Feb 12 and Mar 28. The best time to overseed is between Sep 7 and Oct 27. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 3. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).

Typical lawn care dates in Santa Rosa

Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
Feb 12 – Mar 28
Spring fertilizer
Mar 21 – Apr 25
Overseeding & seeding
Sep 7 – Oct 27
Fall fertilizer
from Jul 16
Light band: typical frost-free season. Bars: typical windows.
TaskTypical window
Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens.Feb 12 – Mar 28
Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing.Mar 21 – Apr 25
Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost.Sep 7 – Oct 27
Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F.from Jul 16

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

Month-by-month lawn care in Santa Rosa

  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. JulyFall fertilizer
  8. AugustNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  9. SeptemberOverseeding & seeding
  10. OctoberOverseeding & seeding
  11. NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  12. DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.

Soil temperature in Santa Rosa by month

Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in December at 48°F and peaks in August at 68°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 12.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
49°F50°F51°F55°F60°F65°F67°F68°F67°F62°F54°F48°F

Santa Rosa lawn timing, year by year

Over the last 10 years, soil in Santa Rosa reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 18 (2016) and as late as Apr 9 (2023): 81 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 3) and first fall frost (Nov 21), the growing season lasts about 263 days.

YearCrabgrass window openedLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2025Feb 19Feb 12Dec 31
2024Jan 19Feb 9Nov 29
2023Apr 9Mar 28Nov 26
2022Jan 21Mar 13Nov 15
2021Feb 20Mar 17Dec 11
2020Jan 26Mar 27Nov 9
2019Mar 16Feb 24Oct 31
2018Mar 9Mar 6Nov 11
2017Feb 4Feb 28Nov 6
2016Jan 18Jan 2Dec 7

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

Growing warm-season grass in Santa Rosa?

TaskTypical window
Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Feb 12 – Mar 28
FertilizerJun 14 – Oct 10
Seeding, sodding & pluggingJun 14 – Sep 7
Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Jul 1 – Jul 22

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply pre-emergent in Santa Rosa?

In a typical year, between Feb 12 and Mar 28. 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 Santa Rosa?

Early fall, typically Sep 7 – Oct 27, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.

When is the last frost in Santa Rosa?

The median last spring frost is Mar 3 and the median first fall frost is Nov 21 (2016–2025).

How long is the growing season in Santa Rosa?

About 263 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 3 to the median first fall frost on Nov 21 (2016–2025).

Lawn care guides

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

More California lawn calendars

Nearby cities in other states