Monroe, LA Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Monroe between Feb 6 and Mar 1. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 29 and Aug 30. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 25. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Monroe
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Feb 6 – Mar 1 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 29 – Oct 2 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 29 – Aug 30 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 17 – Nov 7 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Monroe. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Monroe
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)FertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizer
- OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Monroe by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 47°F and peaks in July at 84°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 6.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47°F | 51°F | 60°F | 65°F | 74°F | 80°F | 84°F | 84°F | 79°F | 69°F | 58°F | 51°F |
Monroe lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Monroe reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 12 (2017) and as late as Mar 3 (2022): 50 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 25) and first fall frost (Nov 13), the growing season lasts about 261 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jan 31 | Feb 22 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Jan 25 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Feb 8 | Mar 21 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | Mar 3 | Mar 14 | Oct 19 |
| 2021 | Feb 25 | Mar 3 | Nov 27 |
| 2020 | Mar 1 | Feb 28 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Feb 4 | Mar 7 | Nov 9 |
| 2018 | Feb 15 | Feb 9 | Nov 14 |
| 2017 | Jan 12 | Jan 28 | Oct 29 |
| 2016 | Jan 31 | Feb 11 | Nov 20 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Monroe. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Monroe?
In a typical year, between Feb 6 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 Monroe?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 29 – Aug 30, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Monroe?
The median last spring frost is Feb 25 and the median first fall frost is Nov 13 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Monroe?
About 261 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 25 to the median first fall frost on Nov 13 (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 Monroe planting calendarfor when to start seeds and plant outside.
More Louisiana lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Jackson, MS 114 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1
- Texarkana, AR 129 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 13
- Little Rock, AR 155 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 28 – Mar 19
- Hattiesburg, MS 185 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 4 – Feb 25