The Woodlands, TX Lawn Care Calendar
In a typical year, put down crabgrass preventer in The Woodlands between Feb 1 and Feb 17. Seed or sod warm-season grass between Mar 11 and Sep 28. The last spring frost usually comes around Feb 21. Most lawns here are warm-season grass (Bermuda, zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede).
Typical lawn care dates in The Woodlands
| 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 1 – Feb 17 |
| FertilizerFeed after green-up once soil stays above 65°F; stop about 6 weeks before the first frost. | Mar 11 – Oct 24 |
| Seeding, sodding & pluggingWarm-season grass needs soil above 65°F and about 10 weeks to establish before frost. | Mar 11 – Sep 28 |
| Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)Stops annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and winter weeds; apply as soil drops below 70°F. | Oct 23 – Nov 13 |
Median dates, 2016–2025, from NOAA weather data for The Woodlands. This year's dates can differ by a few weeks.
Month-by-month lawn care in The Woodlands
- JanuaryNo treatments due; mow as needed.
- FebruaryCrabgrass preventer (pre-emergent)
- MarchFertilizerSeeding, sodding & plugging
- 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 The Woodlands by month
Average soil temperature 4 inches down, estimated from 2016–2025 weather. It bottoms out in January at 52°F and peaks in July at 85°F. Crabgrass preventer goes down when it reaches 50°F, usually around Feb 1.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52°F | 56°F | 64°F | 69°F | 77°F | 82°F | 85°F | 85°F | 81°F | 73°F | 63°F | 57°F |
The Woodlands lawn timing, year by year
Over the last 10 years, soil in The Woodlands reached 50°F, the signal for crabgrass preventer, as early as Jan 11 (2017) and as late as Mar 1 (2020): 49 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 (Feb 21) and first fall frost (Dec 8), the growing season lasts about 290 days.
| Year | Crabgrass window opened | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Jan 29 | Feb 21 | Dec 15 |
| 2024 | Jan 24 | Feb 20 | — |
| 2023 | Feb 7 | Feb 18 | — |
| 2022 | Feb 16 | Mar 13 | Dec 18 |
| 2021 | Feb 24 | Feb 21 | — |
| 2020 | Mar 1 | Feb 28 | Dec 1 |
| 2019 | Feb 2 | Mar 7 | Nov 13 |
| 2018 | Jan 27 | Jan 25 | Nov 14 |
| 2017 | Jan 11 | Jan 9 | Dec 8 |
| 2016 | Jan 30 | Feb 6 | Dec 19 |
Estimated from daily temperatures for The Woodlands. A dash means it didn't happen that year.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in The Woodlands?
In a typical year, between Feb 1 and Feb 17. 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 The Woodlands?
Once soil stays above 65°F, typically Mar 11 – Sep 28, leaving about 10 weeks before the first frost.
When is the last frost in The Woodlands?
The median last spring frost is Feb 21 and the median first fall frost is Dec 8 (2016–2025).
How long is the growing season in The Woodlands?
About 290 days, from the median last spring frost on Feb 21 to the median first fall frost on Dec 8 (2016–2025).
Lawn care guides
More Texas lawn calendars
Nearby cities in other states
- Lake Charles, LA 134 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 1 – Feb 16
- Shreveport, LA 192 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 6 – Mar 1
- Lafayette, LA 206 miles away · crabgrass preventer Jan 30 – Feb 15
- Texarkana, AR 241 miles away · crabgrass preventer Feb 19 – Mar 13