Fayetteville, NC Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Fayetteville between Feb 11 and Mar 15. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 14 and Sep 1. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 21. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Fayetteville
| 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 11 – Mar 15 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 14 – Oct 4 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 14 – Sep 1 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 10 – Oct 31 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Fayetteville. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Fayetteville
- 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 Fayetteville by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 44°F and peaks in July at 82°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 11.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44°F | 49°F | 54°F | 63°F | 71°F | 78°F | 82°F | 80°F | 76°F | 66°F | 54°F | 47°F |
Fayetteville lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Fayetteville reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 18 (2017) and as late as Mar 10 (2020): 51 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 21) and first fall frost (Nov 15), the growing season lasts about 239 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 1 | Mar 7 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Jan 26 | Feb 22 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Feb 10 | Mar 21 | Nov 2 |
| 2022 | Feb 22 | Mar 28 | Nov 18 |
| 2021 | Feb 28 | Apr 3 | Nov 16 |
| 2020 | Mar 10 | Mar 9 | Nov 19 |
| 2019 | Feb 6 | Mar 8 | Nov 9 |
| 2018 | Feb 11 | Mar 23 | Nov 23 |
| 2017 | Jan 18 | Mar 20 | Nov 11 |
| 2016 | Feb 22 | Apr 10 | Nov 13 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Fayetteville. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing cool-season grass in Fayetteville?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Feb 11 – Mar 15 |
| Spring fertilizer | Mar 8 – Apr 12 |
| Overseeding & seeding | Sep 1 – Oct 21 |
| Fall fertilizer | Oct 10 – Dec 11 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Fayetteville?
In a typical year, between Feb 11 and Mar 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 Fayetteville?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 14 – Sep 1, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Fayetteville?
The median last spring frost is Mar 21 and the median first fall frost is Nov 15 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Fayetteville?
About 239 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 21 to the median first fall frost on Nov 15 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More North Carolina lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Myrtle Beach, SC 94 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 8 – Mar 1
- Rock Hill, SC 122 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 17 – Mar 19
- Columbia, SC 142 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 5 – Mar 8
- Lynchburg, VA 164 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 12 – Apr 15