Las Cruces, NM Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Las Cruces between Feb 24 and Mar 16. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 20 and Sep 6. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 3. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Las Cruces
| 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 24 – Mar 16 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 20 – Oct 9 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 20 – Sep 6 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 9 – Oct 30 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Las Cruces. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Las Cruces
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- AprilFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- MayFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JuneFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- JulyFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- AugustFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- SeptemberFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- OctoberFertilizerFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- NovemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Las Cruces by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 43°F and peaks in July at 84°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 24.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43°F | 49°F | 55°F | 63°F | 71°F | 81°F | 84°F | 82°F | 76°F | 66°F | 54°F | 47°F |
Las Cruces lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Las Cruces reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Feb 3 (2018) and as late as Mar 6 (2021): 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 (Mar 3) and first fall frost (Nov 20), the growing season lasts about 262 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 4 | Apr 7 | Dec 2 |
| 2024 | Feb 21 | Feb 19 | Dec 9 |
| 2023 | Feb 26 | Mar 4 | Oct 31 |
| 2022 | Mar 2 | Mar 14 | Nov 12 |
| 2021 | Mar 6 | Mar 18 | Nov 27 |
| 2020 | Mar 2 | Feb 28 | Oct 27 |
| 2019 | Feb 28 | Feb 26 | Oct 25 |
| 2018 | Feb 3 | Mar 2 | Nov 13 |
| 2017 | Feb 6 | Feb 26 | Dec 8 |
| 2016 | Feb 13 | Apr 3 | Nov 30 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Las Cruces. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing cool-season grass in Las Cruces?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Feb 24 – Mar 16 |
| Spring fertilizer | Mar 9 – Apr 13 |
| Overseeding & seeding | Sep 6 – Oct 26 |
| Fall fertilizer | from Oct 9 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Las Cruces?
In a typical year, between Feb 24 and Mar 16. 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 Las Cruces?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 20 – Sep 6, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Las Cruces?
The median last spring frost is Mar 3 and the median first fall frost is Nov 20 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Las Cruces?
About 262 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 3 to the median first fall frost on Nov 20 (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 Las Cruces planting calendarfor when to start seeds and plant outside.
More New Mexico lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- El Paso, TX 42 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 9 – Mar 5
- Tucson, AZ 245 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 14
- Midland, TX 276 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 14 – Mar 12
- Lubbock, TX 299 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Mar 31