LawnWeather

Salisbury, MD Lawn Care Calendar

In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Salisbury between Mar 17 and Apr 17. The best time to overseed is between Aug 24 and Oct 13. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 10. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).

Typical lawn care dates in Salisbury

Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
Mar 17 – Apr 17
Spring fertilizer
Apr 10 – May 15
Overseeding & seeding
Aug 24 – Oct 13
Fall fertilizer
Sep 21 – Nov 26
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.Mar 17 – Apr 17
Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing.Apr 10 – May 15
Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost.Aug 24 – Oct 13
Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F.Sep 21 – Nov 26

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

Month-by-month lawn care in Salisbury

  1. JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  2. FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  3. MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
  4. AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
  5. MaySpring fertilizer
  6. JuneNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  7. JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  8. AugustOverseeding & seeding
  9. SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
  10. OctoberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
  11. NovemberFall fertilizer
  12. DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.

Soil temperature in Salisbury by month

Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 37°F and peaks in July at 79°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 17.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
37°F41°F46°F56°F64°F73°F79°F77°F72°F61°F49°F41°F

Salisbury lawn timing, year by year

Over the last 10 years, soil in Salisbury reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 21 (2018) and as late as Apr 5 (2019): 43 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 (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Nov 7), the growing season lasts about 211 days.

YearCrabgrass window openedLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2025Mar 16Apr 9Nov 14
2024Mar 13Mar 25Oct 28
2023Mar 24Apr 10Nov 2
2022Mar 18Apr 29Oct 19
2021Mar 25Apr 3Nov 14
2020Mar 11Apr 19Nov 17
2019Apr 5Apr 2Nov 4
2018Feb 21Apr 21Oct 22
2017Mar 28Apr 9Nov 11
2016Mar 10Apr 16Nov 8

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

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply pre-emergent in Salisbury?

In a typical year, between Mar 17 and Apr 17. 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 Salisbury?

Early fall, typically Aug 24 – Oct 13, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.

When is the last frost in Salisbury?

The median last spring frost is Apr 10 and the median first fall frost is Nov 7 (2016–2025).

How long is the growing season in Salisbury?

About 211 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 10 to the median first fall frost on Nov 7 (2016–2025).

Lawn care guides

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

More Maryland lawn calendars

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