When does pre-emergent application typically open in Santa Monica, CA?

Pre-emergent application typically opens in April to May for Santa Monica, CA, when 2-inch soil temperature reaches the 50–55°F threshold for several consecutive days. Apply earlier than that and the herbicide degrades before crabgrass germinates; apply later and weeds have already sprouted. This is informational guidance only, not a prescription. The label is the law. Consult your local Cooperative Extension office before applying any product.

What grass types grow best in Santa Monica, CA?

Santa Monica, CA is primarily a cool-season climate. Cool-season grasses (tall fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, fine fescue) thrive when 2-inch soil sits in the 50–65°F range and slow down in midsummer heat. Picking a grass family that matches the climate is the single biggest lawn-care decision; transition-zone homeowners often maintain blends and accept that neither family will look perfect year-round. This is informational guidance only, not a prescription. The label is the law. Consult your local Cooperative Extension office before applying any product.

When is the first fall frost typically expected in Santa Monica, CA?

Santa Monica, CA sees little to no typical fall frost in most years. Cool-season tasks anchored to a frost date use a calendar-fallback window instead. This is informational guidance only, not a prescription. The label is the law. Consult your local Cooperative Extension office before applying any product.

How often is this schedule updated?

Recommendations recompute every 6 hours from the latest reading at Santa Barbara 11 W, about 84 miles from Santa Monica. This is informational guidance only, not a prescription. The label is the law. Consult your local Cooperative Extension office before applying any product.

What soil temperature do cool-season grasses need to germinate?

Cool-season grasses like fescue, Kentucky bluegrass, and perennial ryegrass germinate best when 2-inch soil temperature sits in the 50–65°F range for several consecutive days. Above that, summer heat stresses young seedlings; below that, germination slows or stalls. The re-entry interval (REI) on any post-emergent products you apply during establishment is on the product label; respect it before letting pets or children back on treated areas. This is informational guidance only, not a prescription. The label is the law. Consult your local Cooperative Extension office before applying any product.

Where does the soil temperature data for Santa Monica come from?

Soil temperature for Santa Monica comes from Santa Barbara 11 W, a station in the NOAA US Climate Reference Network (USCRN) located about 84 miles away. Daily readings at depths from 2 inches down to 40 inches feed the schedule's window-open and window-closing decisions. This is informational guidance only, not a prescription. The label is the law. Consult your local Cooperative Extension office before applying any product.

Home Locations Guides

Tools

Live Soil Temperature Map Soil Moisture MapLawn-Care Schedule4-Inch Soil Temperature Soil Temperature by Depth Growing Degree Days

Home Locations Guides Tools

Live Soil Temperature Map Soil Moisture MapLawn-Care Schedule4-Inch Soil Temperature Soil Temperature by Depth Growing Degree Days

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California
Santa Monica, CA
Lawn Care Schedule

Lawn Care Schedule for Santa Monica, CA

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Right now in Santa Monica

84°F at 2-inch depth · Measured in the ground · Santa Barbara 11 W (NOAA USCRN #53152), 84 mi W · read 3 days ago (Sep 10, 2026) · updates nightly with about a 1-day sensor lag

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Data provided by USDA NRCS SCAN Network and NOAA USCRN. Modeled fallback: modeled estimates when a current station reading is unavailable. Updated daily. For official agricultural data, visit nrcs.usda.gov (opens in new tab).

Tools Live Soil Temperature Map Soil Moisture MapLawn-Care Schedule4-Inch Soil Temperature Soil Temperature by Depth Growing Degree Days Locations Stations Guides Methodology About

Home
California
Santa Monica, CA
Lawn Care Schedule

Lawn Care Schedule for Santa Monica, CA

See another city's schedule →

Right now in Santa Monica

84°F at 2-inch depth · Measured in the ground · Santa Barbara 11 W (NOAA USCRN #53152), 84 mi W · read 3 days ago (Sep 10, 2026) · updates nightly with about a 1-day sensor lag

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Check your local rules

Marin and Sonoma counties restrict pesticide application on public and some private parcels beyond state law. Source
California drought-emergency declarations trigger watering-day restrictions enforced by local water suppliers; check your provider for current stage. Source
California requires independent product registration via the Department of Pesticide Regulation; some EPA-registered products are not legal for sale or use in CA. Source

September

2026This month

October

2026Coming up

November

2026

No active tasks for your location.

December

2026

No active tasks for your location.

About this schedule

Soil at 2 inches is currently 84°F. That is 10°F above the 30-year normal for this date. Data from NOAA US Climate Reference Network (USCRN), 84 miles away at Santa Barbara 11 W. Fall soil test typically opens in September to November.

More for Santa Monica, CA

Soil temperature for this area

Soil temperature in Santa Monica, CA

Nearby schedules

Venice, CA
Marina Del Rey, CA
Playa Del Rey, CA
Culver City, CA
Beverly Hills, CA
Inglewood, CA
Sherman Oaks, CA
Manhattan Beach, CA

Related guides

Affordable lawn renovation: a new homeowner's guide
When to apply pre-emergent herbicide
Fall pre-emergent timing for poa annua
Winterizer timing: when to stop fertilizing
When to apply broadleaf weed killer (cool-season lawns)
When to apply broadleaf weed killer (warm-season lawns)
Spring overseeding for cool-season grass
Spring lawn fertilization timing

Sources

Penn State Extension: Managing Thatch in Lawns (2025)
NC State Extension: Carolina Lawns: A Guide to Maintaining Quality Turf in the Landscape (2021)
Penn State Extension: Liming Turfgrass Areas (2002)
Virginia Cooperative Extension (Virginia Tech): Fall Lawn Care (2025)
University of Georgia Extension: B978: Weed Control in Home Lawns (2024)
Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC: Managing Weeds in Warm Season Lawns (2024)
Penn State Extension: Control of Summer Annual Grass Weeds in Turfgrasses (2024)
University of Maryland Extension: Crabgrass (2023)
University of Georgia Extension: Lawns in Georgia: Establishment (2021)
University of Florida IFAS Extension: Establishing Your Florida Lawn (2023)
Penn State Extension: Turfgrass Fertilization: A Basic Guide for Professional Turfgrass Managers (2016)
University of Georgia Extension: Turfgrass Fertility: Understanding Fertilizer Labels, Macronutrients, and Micronutrients (2016)
Penn State Extension: White Grubs in Home Lawns (2024)
Purdue Extension Entomology: Managing White Grubs in Turfgrass (2023)
NC State Extension TurfFiles: Annual Bluegrass (2022)
University of Georgia Extension: Annual Bluegrass Control in Residential Turfgrass (2024)
Penn State Extension: Soil Testing (2026)
University of Maryland Extension: Soil Testing and Soil Testing Labs (2026)

Latest soil reading: Sep 10, 2026 (3 days ago).

Schedule last updated: 21:21 UTC-8

COMING UP

Fall lime application

DAYS

Opens when 2-inch soil holds at or below 60°F. Currently 84°F.

Calendar window date; soil conditions decide the actual open.

→ See full schedule for the year