North Dakota Lawn Care Calendar & Pre-Emergent Dates

When to apply pre-emergent in North Dakota

Typically between May 4 and May 18, depending on where you live. The window opens first in Minot (around May 4) and last in Grand Forks (around May 5). Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before it stays above 55°F.

City	Crabgrass preventer window
Minot	May 4 – May 19
Fargo	May 5 – May 17
Bismarck	May 5 – May 19
Grand Forks	May 5 – May 18

Cool-season lawn calendar

Lawns across North Dakota are mostly cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass).

City	Spring fertilizer	Overseeding & seeding	Fall fertilizer
Fargo	May 10 – Jun 14	Jul 27 – Sep 15	Jul 30 – Oct 22
Bismarck	May 12 – Jun 16	Jul 25 – Sep 13	Aug 5 – Oct 24
Minot	May 12 – Jun 16	Jul 24 – Sep 12	Jul 25 – Oct 19
Grand Forks	May 11 – Jun 15	Jul 26 – Sep 14	Jul 19 – Oct 21

Frost dates in North Dakota

City	Last spring frost	First fall frost
Fargo	May 10	Oct 10
Bismarck	May 1	Oct 8
Minot	May 6	Oct 7
Grand Forks	May 7	Oct 9

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 North Dakota?

Typically between May 4 and May 18, depending on where you live. The window opens first in Minot (around May 4) and last in Grand Forks (around May 5). Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before it stays above 55°F.

When is the best time to seed grass in North Dakota?

Early fall is best for cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass): typically from Jul 24 to Sep 15 across North Dakota, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.

What type of grass grows in North Dakota?

Most lawns in North Dakota are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass).

North Dakota Lawn Care Calendar