Soilclock

Washington 43°F soil temperature

Updated Nov 4, 2026, 7:41 AM EST

The middle reading of 7 Washington cities, 2 inches down, on Nov 3. Pick a city for its forecast and lawn calendar.

Washington cities today

Estimated daily average soil temperature at 2 inches, the difference from normal for the date, and the change over the last week. Washington spans the transition zone, where both cool- and warm-season lawns grow and cool-season grass country.

City2 in4 invs normal7 daysCrabgrass windowFall seeding ends
Seattle 46°48° −4°−6° Apr 7 – May 1 Oct 23
Spokane 42°44° −1°−5° Apr 22 – May 8 Oct 12
Tacoma 47°49° −2°−4° Apr 13 – May 10 Oct 18
Everett 45°47° −4°−5° Apr 16 – May 11 Oct 17
Yakima 42°44° −2°−5° Apr 10 – Apr 30 Oct 13
Bellingham 43°45° −5°−4° Apr 18 – May 15 Oct 10
Kennewick 43°45° −4°−6° Apr 1 – Apr 25 Oct 24

When to apply pre-emergent in Washington

Crabgrass pre-emergent goes down when 2-inch soil holds about 50°F. Across Washington that has typically happened first in Kennewick, around Apr 1, and last in Spokane, around Apr 22. The window closes when soil holds 55°F and crabgrass starts sprouting.

Close view of a Kentucky bluegrass lawn
Kentucky bluegrass, the most common cool-season lawn grass in the northern US.

Last good week to seed in Washington

Tall fescue and bluegrass seed sprouts best while 4-inch soil is between 55 and 70°F. The typical last day above 55°F:

What grows in Washington lawns

Crabgrass is the weed spring pre-emergents are timed for. Lawns here are mostly cool-season grasses such as bluegrass and fescue.

Large crabgrass with its spreading finger-like seed heads
Large crabgrass in seed. Each plant can drop thousands of seeds that wait for warm spring soil.
Close view of a Kentucky bluegrass lawn
Kentucky bluegrass, the most common cool-season lawn grass in the northern US.
A low mat of bermudagrass with fine blades and seed heads
Bermudagrass, the warm-season grass behind most lawns from the Carolinas to Texas.

Other states