Lafayette, LA Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Lafayette between Jan 30 and Feb 15. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 8 and Sep 25. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 7. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Lafayette
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Jan 30 – Feb 15 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 8 – Oct 20 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 8 – Sep 25 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 22 – Nov 12 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Lafayette. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Lafayette
- JanuaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Lafayette by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 52°F and peaks in July at 84°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Jan 30.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52°F | 57°F | 64°F | 69°F | 76°F | 82°F | 84°F | 84°F | 80°F | 72°F | 62°F | 57°F |
Lafayette lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Lafayette reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 11 (2017) and as late as Feb 25 (2021): 45 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 (Feb 7) and first fall frost (Dec 2), the growing season lasts about 298 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jan 29 | Feb 22 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Jan 24 | Jan 22 | — |
| 2023 | Feb 6 | Mar 20 | — |
| 2022 | Feb 16 | Feb 7 | Dec 18 |
| 2021 | Feb 25 | Feb 21 | — |
| 2020 | Jan 24 | — | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Feb 2 | Mar 6 | Nov 13 |
| 2018 | Jan 27 | Jan 19 | Nov 15 |
| 2017 | Jan 11 | Jan 9 | Dec 9 |
| 2016 | Jan 30 | Jan 25 | Dec 10 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Lafayette. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Lafayette?
In a typical year, between Jan 30 and Feb 15. 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 Lafayette?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 8 – Sep 25, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Lafayette?
The median last spring frost is Feb 7 and the median first fall frost is Dec 2 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Lafayette?
About 298 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 7 to the median first fall frost on Dec 2 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
- When to apply pre-emergent
- Lawn fertilizer schedule
- Cool-season vs. warm-season grass
- Soil temperature for lawns
- Fall lawn care checklist
Growing vegetables too? See the Lafayette planting calendarfor when to start seeds and plant outside.
More Louisiana lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Beaumont, TX 126 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 31 – Feb 12
- Gulfport, MS 175 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 30 – Feb 15
- Hattiesburg, MS 179 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 4 – Feb 25
- Jackson, MS 180 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1