Recommendations
Weed Prevention
Shallow soil temperatures are still below the typical action band. Keep monitoring conditions before acting.
ℹ️When to come back
The weed prevention window typically opens when the 3-day soil temperature average reaches 50°F to 55°F. Current 3-day average is 44.6°F. Bookmark this page and check back in a week.
Read our full weed prevention guide →Details for It is still a little early for spring pre-emergent timing| Target depth | 2" target depth (using nearby 20.00" observations where needed) |
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| Typical action band | 50°F to 55°F |
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| Recent conditions | 3-day average using nearby 20.00" depth is 44.6°F |
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| Confidence | Medium confidence because this recommendation is using a nearby proxy depth instead of an exact 2-inch series. |
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Source: USDA NWCC AWDB soil temperature data
Daily Soil Temperature
Depth: 20" • Last 12 Months
Nearest USDA Station
Mascoma River (Site 2043), NH
- Distance: 31 miles from Tilton, NH
- Elevation: 1400 ft
- Coordinates: 43.7756, -72.0259
USDA NWCC AWDB soil temperature observations.
7-day soil temperature readings| Date | 2" °F | Δ 2" | 20" °F | 40" °F |
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| May 19 | — | — | 45.1 | 44.4 |
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| May 18 | — | — | 44.6 | 44.1 |
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| May 17 | — | — | 44.2 | 43.7 |
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| May 16 | — | — | 43.7 | 43.5 |
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| May 15 | — | — | 43.5 | 43.2 |
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| May 14 | — | — | 43.2 | 43.0 |
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| May 13 | — | — | 43.2 | 43.0 |
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Check the current soil temp at your location and make confident lawn timing decisions. Enter your ZIP code for live soil temperatures near you, plus planting windows, pre-emergent timing, fertilizer guidance, and disease watch alerts based on your nearest USDA monitoring station.
How Soil Temperature Drives Lawn Timing
Track how soil temperatures are trending at your location with daily readings and 12-month historical data. Unlike air temperature forecasts, soil temps change gradually. A sustained warming trend over several days is a stronger planting signal than any single reading. Enter your ZIP code above to see the current soil temperature trend and forecast for your area.
Soil temperatures, sometimes called ground temperatures or simply soil temps, shift more slowly than air readings, making them a more reliable indicator of root zone conditions. When the 2-inch depth reaches germination thresholds for several consecutive days, weed seeds activate. That is your signal for pre-emergent timing. At 4-inch depth, sustained temperatures above 65°F indicate warm-season grass is actively growing and ready for fertilizer or aeration. Compare the planting window and recommendation guidance above with the daily chart below to make your decision.
About the Data
Readings refresh nightly from the USDA-NRCS Soil Climate Analysis Network and the NOAA US Climate Reference Network (USCRN). Planting windows are derived from multi-year climatology overlaid with NOAA 1991–2020 frost normals. Recommendation cards evaluate current soil conditions against research-backed thresholds from university extension sources. Check back regularly as conditions change. The guidance updates with every new reading.
Data sources: USDA-NRCS SCAN network, NOAA USCRN, NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, and localized frost climatology via Soil Temps analytics.
Browse soil temperature data by state, over 2,000 cities with current readings, hardiness zones, and planting windows.
Explore the US Soil Temperature Map for a live station view of readings across the country.
