Knoxville, TN Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Knoxville between Mar 5 and Mar 24. The best time to overseed is between Aug 23 and Oct 12. The last spring frost usually comes around Mar 28. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Knoxville
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Crabgrass sprouts once soil stays above 55°F. Apply when soil reaches 50°F, before that happens. | Mar 5 – Mar 24 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Mar 17 – Apr 21 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 23 – Oct 12 |
| 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 Knoxville. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Knoxville
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- MarchCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)Spring fertilizer
- AprilSpring fertilizer
- MayNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- JuneNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- JulyNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- AugustOverseeding & seeding
- SeptemberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- OctoberOverseeding & seedingFall fertilizer
- NovemberFall fertilizer
- DecemberNo treatments due; mow as needed.
Soil temperature in Knoxville by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 38°F and peaks in July at 79°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Mar 5.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38°F | 44°F | 51°F | 58°F | 68°F | 75°F | 79°F | 78°F | 73°F | 63°F | 50°F | 42°F |
Knoxville lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Knoxville reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 14 (2017) and as late as Apr 5 (2019): 81 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 28) and first fall frost (Nov 6), the growing season lasts about 223 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 5 | Apr 9 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Mar 4 | Mar 20 | Nov 24 |
| 2023 | Feb 22 | Mar 22 | Nov 1 |
| 2022 | Mar 4 | Apr 10 | Oct 18 |
| 2021 | Mar 12 | Apr 22 | Nov 7 |
| 2020 | Mar 11 | Mar 9 | Nov 3 |
| 2019 | Apr 5 | Apr 1 | Nov 2 |
| 2018 | Feb 16 | Apr 17 | Nov 11 |
| 2017 | Jan 14 | Mar 20 | Oct 30 |
| 2016 | Mar 10 | Mar 22 | Nov 20 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Knoxville. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing warm-season grass in Knoxville?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Mar 5 – Mar 24 |
| Fertilizer | May 1 – Sep 25 |
| Seeding, sodding & plugging | May 1 – Aug 23 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) | Sep 24 – Oct 15 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Knoxville?
In a typical year, between Mar 5 and Mar 24. 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 Knoxville?
Early fall, typically Aug 23 – Oct 12, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Knoxville?
The median last spring frost is Mar 28 and the median first fall frost is Nov 6 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Knoxville?
About 223 days, from the median last spring frost on Mar 28 to the median first fall frost on Nov 6 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Tennessee lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Asheville, NC 81 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 5 – Apr 11
- Greenville, SC 115 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 17 – Mar 13
- Alpharetta, GA 132 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 22 – Mar 12
- Athens, GA 142 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 13 – Mar 12