Missouri Lawn Care Calendar
In Missouri, crabgrass preventer typically goes down between Mar 11 and Apr 16: first in Joplin, last in Kansas City. Below are typical fertilizer, seeding and frost dates for Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia and Joplin, from 2016–2025 weather data. Enter your ZIP code for this year's timing.
When to apply pre-emergent in Missouri
Typically between Mar 11 and Apr 16, depending on where you live. The window opens first in Joplin (around Mar 11) and last in Kansas City (around Mar 20). Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before it stays above 55°F.
| City | Crabgrass preventer window |
|---|---|
| Joplin | Mar 11 – Apr 13 |
| St. Louis | Mar 15 – Apr 16 |
| Columbia | Mar 15 – Apr 17 |
| Springfield | Mar 18 – Apr 18 |
| Kansas City | Mar 20 – Apr 16 |
Cool-season lawn calendar
Lawns across Missouri are mostly cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass).
| City | Spring fertilizer | Overseeding & seeding | Fall fertilizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | Apr 9 – May 14 | Aug 15 – Oct 4 | Sep 26 – Nov 11 |
| St. Louis | Apr 9 – May 14 | Aug 19 – Oct 8 | Sep 24 – Nov 25 |
| Springfield | Apr 11 – May 16 | Aug 11 – Sep 30 | Sep 14 – Nov 11 |
| Columbia | Apr 10 – May 15 | Aug 16 – Oct 5 | Sep 18 – Nov 18 |
| Joplin | Apr 6 – May 11 | Aug 15 – Oct 4 | Sep 25 – Nov 26 |
Frost dates in Missouri
| City | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City | Apr 9 | Oct 29 |
| St. Louis | Apr 9 | Nov 2 |
| Springfield | Apr 18 | Oct 25 |
| Columbia | Apr 10 | Oct 30 |
| Joplin | Apr 11 | Oct 29 |
Median dates, 2016–2025. A dash means frost does not occur in most years.
Frequently asked questions
When should I put down pre-emergent in Missouri?
Typically between Mar 11 and Apr 16, depending on where you live. The window opens first in Joplin (around Mar 11) and last in Kansas City (around Mar 20). Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before it stays above 55°F.
When is the best time to seed grass in Missouri?
Early fall is best for cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass): typically from Aug 11 to Oct 8 across Missouri, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
What type of grass grows in Missouri?
Most lawns in Missouri are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass).
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