Spring · barrier goes down
March 22
January 3 (warmest parts) to May 31 (coolest)
When to Apply Pre-Emergent in California
In California, spring pre-emergent typically goes down around March 22, when 2-inch soil first holds 50°F, and must be in place before soil reaches 55°F, typically by April 8. Fall pre-emergent for poa annua follows as soil cools, typically from October 11.
Typical Spring Pre-Emergent Window in California
Spring · must be down before
April 8
January 14 (warmest parts) to June 10 (coolest)
The window opens when 2-inch soil first holds 50°F and the product needs to be watered in before soil reaches 55°F, the point where crabgrass seed germinates. Across California that first crossing runs from January 3 in the warmest parts to May 31 in the coolest.
Spring pre-emergent and spring seeding are an either/or on the same turf: a standard pre-emergent blocks grass seed for the length of its reseeding restriction, which covers the spring seeding window. Mesotrione is the one cool-season exception. For a lawn being seeded this spring, see when to plant grass seed in California and the spring overseeding guide.
| Region | Typical spring window opens | Typical fall window opens | Stations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern California | April 21 | August 27 | 8 |
| Central California | February 26 | October 11 | 8 |
| Southern California | February 24 | October 11 | 8 |
The 55°F Rule
Crabgrass seed germinates once 2-inch soil holds 55°F for several consecutive days. A pre-emergent works by forming a barrier the seedling cannot grow through, so it must be down and watered in before that crossing; applied after it, the product does nothing for seed that has already sprouted. In California the crossing typically arrives around April 8, earlier in the warmest parts of the state and later in the coolest. The spring pre-emergent guide covers the research behind the threshold and the growing-degree-day cross-check.
Fall Pre-Emergent Timing for Poa Annua in California
Annual bluegrass (poa annua) germinates as soil cools in late summer and fall. The ideal application band opens as 2-inch soil falls back through 70°F, typically around October 11 in California, and ends as it passes 65°F, typically around October 13. Applications stay worthwhile until soil drops to about 55°F, after which most of the season's poa annua has already germinated.
Fall pre-emergent and fall seeding are an either/or on the same turf: the barrier that stops poa annua also stops grass seed. A lawn being overseeded this fall skips the fall pre-emergent; see when to plant grass seed in California and the fall pre-emergent timing guide.
Product Selection and Application Tips
Look for products containing prodiamine, dithiopyr, or pendimethalin. Dithiopyr has mild post-emergent properties and can suppress very young crabgrass even if applied slightly late. Weed-and-feed products that pair fertilizer with a pre-emergent follow the same soil-temperature window: the preventer half only works if it is down before the 55°F crossing. Water lightly within 24 hours of applying to move the product into the top layer of soil where weed seeds germinate, and keep to the label's annual maximum.
Common products
- Liquid, needs a pump sprayer: Prodiamine (Barricade)
- Granules, for a spreader: Scotts Halts (pendimethalin)
Check Your City
Timing varies within California: each city page tracks the live 2-inch reading from its nearest station against both windows. See when to apply pre-emergent in Sacramento, when to apply pre-emergent in Los Angeles or when to apply pre-emergent in San Diego, or find your city on the California soil temperature page.
Typical dates are computed from historical 2-inch soil temperature averages at 24 monitoring stations in California; your own window depends on your nearest station's readings.