Wilmington, NC Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Wilmington between Feb 10 and Mar 7. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Apr 15 and Sep 9. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 14. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in Wilmington
| 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 10 – Mar 7 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Apr 15 – Oct 12 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Apr 15 – Sep 9 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 12 – Nov 2 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Wilmington. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Wilmington
- 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)
- NovemberFall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Wilmington by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 47°F and peaks in July at 82°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 10.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47°F | 51°F | 56°F | 63°F | 71°F | 78°F | 82°F | 81°F | 76°F | 68°F | 57°F | 50°F |
Wilmington lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Wilmington reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 14 (2017) and as late as Mar 10 (2020): 55 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 14) and first fall frost (Nov 23), the growing season lasts about 254 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 1 | Mar 4 | Nov 11 |
| 2024 | Jan 26 | Feb 22 | Nov 30 |
| 2023 | Feb 9 | Mar 22 | Nov 29 |
| 2022 | Feb 22 | Mar 28 | Nov 18 |
| 2021 | Feb 25 | Apr 3 | Nov 24 |
| 2020 | Mar 10 | Mar 9 | Dec 2 |
| 2019 | Feb 6 | Mar 8 | Nov 10 |
| 2018 | Feb 11 | Mar 24 | Nov 28 |
| 2017 | Jan 14 | Mar 18 | Nov 20 |
| 2016 | Feb 22 | Feb 28 | Nov 21 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Wilmington. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing cool-season grass in Wilmington?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Feb 10 – Mar 7 |
| Spring fertilizer | Feb 28 – Apr 4 |
| Overseeding & seeding | Sep 9 – Oct 29 |
| Fall fertilizer | Oct 12 – Dec 9 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Wilmington?
In a typical year, between Feb 10 and Mar 7. 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 Wilmington?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Apr 15 – Sep 9, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in Wilmington?
The median last spring frost is Mar 14 and the median first fall frost is Nov 23 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Wilmington?
About 254 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 14 to the median first fall frost on Nov 23 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More North Carolina lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Myrtle Beach, SC 66 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 8 – Mar 1
- Charleston, SC 152 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 4 – Feb 16
- Columbia, SC 178 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 5 – Mar 8
- Rock Hill, SC 182 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 17 – Mar 19