Hattiesburg, MS Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Hattiesburg between Feb 4 and Feb 25. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 14 and Sep 4. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 15. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Hattiesburg
| 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 4 – Feb 25 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 14 – Oct 7 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 14 – Sep 4 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 18 – Nov 8 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Hattiesburg. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Hattiesburg
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- 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 Hattiesburg by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 49°F and peaks in August at 83°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 4.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49°F | 55°F | 61°F | 66°F | 74°F | 80°F | 82°F | 83°F | 79°F | 70°F | 59°F | 53°F |
Hattiesburg lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Hattiesburg reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 12 (2017) and as late as Feb 26 (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 (Mar 15) and first fall frost (Nov 18), the growing season lasts about 248 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jan 30 | Mar 22 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Jan 25 | Mar 19 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Feb 7 | Mar 21 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | Feb 21 | Mar 14 | Oct 19 |
| 2021 | Feb 26 | Feb 24 | Nov 27 |
| 2020 | Feb 3 | Mar 1 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Feb 4 | Mar 8 | Nov 9 |
| 2018 | Feb 7 | Mar 16 | Nov 15 |
| 2017 | Jan 12 | Mar 16 | Nov 20 |
| 2016 | Jan 30 | Feb 28 | Nov 20 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Hattiesburg. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Hattiesburg?
In a typical year, between Feb 4 and Feb 25. 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 Hattiesburg?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 14 – Sep 4, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Hattiesburg?
The median last spring frost is Mar 15 and the median first fall frost is Nov 18 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Hattiesburg?
About 248 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 15 to the median first fall frost on Nov 18 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Mississippi lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Mobile, AL 86 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 30 – Feb 15
- New Orleans, LA 106 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 27 – Feb 9
- Baton Rouge, LA 128 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 29 – Feb 16
- Pensacola, FL 138 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 28 – Feb 12