LawnWeather

St. Paul, MN Lawn Care Calendar

In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in St. Paul between Apr 21 and May 15. The best time to overseed is between Aug 7 and Sep 26. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 22. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).

Typical lawn care dates in St. Paul

Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
Apr 21 – May 15
Spring fertilizer
May 8 – Jun 12
Overseeding & seeding
Aug 7 – Sep 26
Fall fertilizer
Sep 2 – Oct 29
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.Apr 21 – May 15
Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing.May 8 – Jun 12
Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost.Aug 7 – Sep 26
Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F.Sep 2 – Oct 29

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

Month-by-month lawn care in St. Paul

  1. JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  2. FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  3. MarchNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  4. AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
  5. MayCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
  6. JuneSpring fertilizer
  7. JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  8. AugustOverseeding & seeding
  9. SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
  10. OctoberFall fertilizer
  11. NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
  12. DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.

Soil temperature in St. Paul by month

Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 17°F and peaks in July at 74°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Apr 21.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
17°F19°F33°F44°F59°F70°F74°F72°F66°F52°F37°F23°F

St. Paul lawn timing, year by year

Over the last 10 years, soil in St. Paul reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Apr 5 (2021) and as late as May 6 (2022): 31 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 22) and first fall frost (Oct 21), the growing season lasts about 182 days.

YearCrabgrass window openedLast spring frostFirst fall frost
2025Apr 27Apr 9Oct 24
2024Apr 12Apr 21Oct 16
2023Apr 12Apr 26Oct 28
2022May 6Apr 28Oct 14
2021Apr 5Apr 25Oct 23
2020Apr 26Apr 21Oct 18
2019Apr 24Apr 15Oct 13
2018Apr 30Apr 21Oct 12
2017Apr 15Apr 28Oct 28
2016Apr 16Apr 13Nov 12

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

Frequently asked questions

When should I apply pre-emergent in St. Paul?

In a typical year, between Apr 21 and May 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 St. Paul?

Early fall, typically Aug 7 – Sep 26, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.

When is the last frost in St. Paul?

The median last spring frost is Apr 22 and the median first fall frost is Oct 21 (2016–2025).

How long is the growing season in St. Paul?

About 182 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 22 to the median first fall frost on Oct 21 (2016–2025).

Lawn care guides

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

More Minnesota lawn calendars

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