New York City, NY Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in New York City between Apr 11 and May 2. The best time to overseed is between Sep 8 and Oct 28. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 31. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in New York City
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Apr 11 – May 2 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Apr 25 – May 30 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Sep 8 – Oct 28 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 24 – Nov 25 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for New York City. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in New York City
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AprilCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- MayCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- JuneNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AugustNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- OctoberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in New York City by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 36°F and peaks in July at 79°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Apr 11.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 37°F | 44°F | 52°F | 62°F | 72°F | 79°F | 78°F | 72°F | 61°F | 49°F | 39°F |
New York City lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in New York City reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Mar 14 (2024) and as late as Apr 23 (2018): 40 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 31) and first fall frost (Nov 22), the growing season lasts about 236 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Apr 18 | Apr 9 | Dec 5 |
| 2024 | Mar 14 | Mar 24 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Apr 11 | Mar 31 | Nov 25 |
| 2022 | Mar 19 | Mar 30 | Nov 19 |
| 2021 | Mar 26 | Apr 3 | Nov 23 |
| 2020 | Apr 5 | Mar 2 | Nov 19 |
| 2019 | Apr 13 | Apr 1 | Nov 9 |
| 2018 | Apr 23 | Mar 19 | Nov 15 |
| 2017 | Apr 10 | Mar 24 | Nov 11 |
| 2016 | Apr 16 | Apr 10 | Dec 10 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for New York City. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in New York City?
In a typical year, between Apr 11 and May 2. 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 New York City?
Early fall, typically Sep 8 – Oct 28, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in New York City?
The median last spring frost is Mar 31 and the median first fall frost is Nov 22 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in New York City?
About 236 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 31 to the median first fall frost on Nov 22 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
- When to apply pre-emergent
- Lawn fertilizer schedule
- When to overseed
- Soil temperature for lawns
- Fall lawn care checklist
Growing vegetables too? See the New York City planting calendarfor when to start seeds and plant outside.
More New York lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Newark, NJ 9 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 11 – May 2
- Stamford, CT 34 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 14 – May 7
- Trenton, NJ 52 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 8 – Apr 27
- Toms River, NJ 53 miles away · crabgrass preventer Apr 12 – May 6