North Carolina cities today
Estimated daily average soil temperature at 2 inches, the difference from normal for the date, and the change over the last week. North Carolina spans the transition zone, where both cool- and warm-season lawns grow and warm-season grass country.
| City | 2 in | vs normal | Crabgrass window |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 62° | +6° | Feb 20 – Mar 16 |
| Raleigh | 61° | +4° | Feb 20 – Mar 17 |
| Greensboro | 59° | +5° | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Fayetteville | 64° | +5° | Feb 12 – Mar 15 |
| Wilmington | 64° | +4° | Feb 12 – Mar 13 |
| Asheville | 56° | +5° | Mar 13 – Apr 4 |
| Gastonia | 61° | +5° | Feb 20 – Mar 15 |
When to apply pre-emergent in North Carolina
Crabgrass pre-emergent goes down when 2-inch soil holds about 50°F. Across North Carolina that has typically happened first in Fayetteville, around Feb 12, and last in Asheville, around Mar 13. The window closes when soil holds 55°F and crabgrass starts sprouting.
- Fayetteville Feb 12 – Mar 15 8 years in 10Opened between Feb 4 and Mar 11; in 2026 it closed Mar 7.
- Wilmington Feb 12 – Mar 13 8 years in 10Opened between early Feb and Mar 4; in 2026 it closed Mar 6.
- Charlotte Feb 20 – Mar 16 8 years in 10Opened between Feb 6 and Mar 13; in 2026 it closed Mar 7.
- Raleigh Feb 20 – Mar 17 8 years in 10Opened between Feb 5 and Mar 13; in 2026 it closed Mar 8.
- Gastonia Feb 20 – Mar 15 8 years in 10Opened between Feb 6 and Mar 13; in 2026 it closed Mar 8.
- Greensboro Mar 4 – Mar 18 8 years in 10Opened between Feb 8 and Mar 26; in 2026 it closed Mar 9.
- Asheville Mar 13 – Apr 4 8 years in 10Opened between Feb 24 and Apr 3; in 2026 it closed Mar 9.
Last good week to seed in North Carolina
Tall fescue and bluegrass seed sprouts best while 4-inch soil is between 55 and 70°F. The typical last day above 55°F:
- Oct 30 Asheville · open now
- Nov 6 Greensboro · open now
- Nov 9 Raleigh · open now
- Nov 10 Charlotte · open now
- Nov 11 Gastonia · open now
- Nov 16 Fayetteville · open now
What grows in North Carolina lawns
Crabgrass is the weed spring pre-emergents are timed for. Lawns here are mostly warm-season grasses such as bermuda.
Other states
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