Nashville, TN Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in Nashville between Mar 5 and Mar 26. The best time to overseed is between Aug 21 and Oct 10. The last spring frost usually comes around Apr 3. Most lawns here are cool-season grass (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, ryegrass).
Typical lawn care dates in Nashville
| 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 26 |
| Spring fertilizerA light feeding once soil warms past 55°F and the grass is actively growing. | Mar 19 – Apr 23 |
| Overseeding & seedingLate summer to early fall: seedlings need about 6–10 weeks of growth before the first frost. | Aug 21 – Oct 10 |
| Fall fertilizerThe most important feeding for cool-season grass, from early fall until soil cools to about 45°F. | Sep 28 – Nov 25 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for Nashville. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in Nashville
- 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 Nashville by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 39°F and peaks in July at 81°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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 39°F | 44°F | 52°F | 59°F | 68°F | 76°F | 81°F | 79°F | 74°F | 63°F | 51°F | 43°F |
Nashville lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in Nashville reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 17 (2017) and as late as Mar 28 (2019): 70 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 (Apr 3) and first fall frost (Nov 4), the growing season lasts about 215 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Feb 4 | Apr 9 | Nov 10 |
| 2024 | Mar 5 | Mar 20 | Nov 29 |
| 2023 | Feb 21 | Mar 21 | Oct 31 |
| 2022 | Mar 3 | Apr 2 | Oct 20 |
| 2021 | Mar 11 | Apr 3 | Nov 4 |
| 2020 | Mar 10 | Apr 16 | Nov 2 |
| 2019 | Mar 28 | Apr 2 | Nov 1 |
| 2018 | Feb 16 | Apr 18 | Nov 10 |
| 2017 | Jan 17 | Mar 17 | Oct 30 |
| 2016 | Mar 9 | Apr 3 | Nov 13 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for Nashville. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Growing warm-season grass in Nashville?
| Task | Typical window |
|---|---|
| Crabgrass preventer (pre-emergent) | Mar 5 – Mar 26 |
| Fertilizer | May 1 – Sep 23 |
| Seeding, sodding & plugging | May 1 – Aug 21 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) | Sep 28 – Oct 19 |
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in Nashville?
In a typical year, between Mar 5 and Mar 26. 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 Nashville?
Early fall, typically Aug 21 – Oct 10, while soil cools from 65°F toward 50°F.
When is the last frost in Nashville?
The median last spring frost is Apr 3 and the median first fall frost is Nov 4 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in Nashville?
About 215 days, from the median last spring frost on Apr 3 to the median first fall frost on Nov 4 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Tennessee lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Bowling Green, KY 60 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 8 – Apr 7
- Huntsville, AL 99 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 21 – Mar 15
- Owensboro, KY 113 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 11 – Apr 10
- Paducah, KY 119 miles away · crabgrass preventer Mar 11 – Apr 4