Wichita
Apply ASAP64°F↓ cooling
Soil has cooled to 75°F, so winter weeds are sprouting. Pre-emergent still stops later flushes.
Winter weeds are sprouting now
Kansas Weed Watch · updated Nov 3, 1:18 AM CT
When to apply pre-emergent in Kansas
Live soil temperatures for Wichita, Topeka, Overland Park and Garden City, updated every three hours. Weeds sprout by soil temperature, not by the calendar, so the right week moves from year to year.
Kansas lawns get pre-emergent twice a year: in spring for crabgrass and other summer weeds, and in fall for winter weeds.
Spring pre-emergentNext season
Typically Mar 22 – Apr 11
Stops crabgrass and other summer weeds before they sprout.
Fall pre-emergentThis season
Typically by Aug 25 – Sep 7
Stops winter weeds (annual bluegrass, henbit, chickweed) before they sprout.
Skip it if you are overseeding this fall.
Right now · fall pre-emergent season
Winter weeds are germinating — apply now if you haven't: Wichita. Winter weeds are up — spot-treat: Topeka, Overland Park and Garden City
Soil is 58–65°F now. Spot-treat them with a post-emergent on a mild day, or in early spring before they flower.
Soil temperature by city
Soil 2 inches down, 5-day average: solid line = the last two weeks, dashed = the six-day forecast. Shaded = below 75°F, where winter weeds sprout — pre-emergent has to be down before the line gets there.
Topeka
Spot-treat64°F↓ cooling
Winter weeds are up. Spot-treat them on a mild day, or in early spring before they flower.
Winter weeds are up
Overland Park
Spot-treat65°F↓ cooling
Winter weeds are up. Spot-treat them on a mild day, or in early spring before they flower.
Winter weeds are up
Garden City
Spot-treat58°F↓ cooling
Winter weeds are up. Spot-treat them on a mild day, or in early spring before they flower.
Winter weeds are up
Kansas pre-emergent calendar
Spring pre-emergent stops crabgrass. The window runs from the typical day soil warms to 50°F to the day it holds 55°F, when crabgrass starts germinating (2016–2025). Fall pre-emergent stops winter weeds: have it down a week before soil usually cools to 75°F, when they start germinating.
| City | Spring pre-emergent (crabgrass) | Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds) |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita | Mar 24 – Apr 10 | Apply by Sep 7 |
| Topeka | Mar 23 – Apr 7 | Apply by Aug 25 |
| Overland Park | Mar 22 – Apr 7 | Apply by Aug 26 |
| Garden City | Mar 27 – Apr 11 | Apply by Aug 26 |
These are typical-year dates (the median of 2016–2025); any one year can run a couple of weeks earlier or later, which is what the live readings above are for. For your exact yard, check soil temperature by ZIP.
Recommended gear
Fall pre-emergents
Granular or liquid. Follow the label rate, and water it in.
Paid links. As an Amazon Associate, MeasureLawn earns from qualifying purchases.
Amazon
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Scotts Halts Crabgrass & Grassy Weed Preventer
Beginner friendlyPendimethalingranularcovers ~5,000 sq ft / 0.11 ac$24.97as of Nov 2, 10:00 AM UTC · may change
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The Andersons Barricade Professional-Grade Granular
Beginner friendly0.48% Prodiaminegranularcovers ~12,880 sq ft / 0.30 ac$79.88as of Nov 2, 10:00 AM UTC · may change
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Dimension 2EW (Dithiopyr)
Liquid concentrate; 64 oz half gallon; mix with water and spray
Dithiopyrliquidcovers ~91,428 sq ft / 2.1 ac$158.00as of Nov 2, 10:00 AM UTC · may change
What people in Kansas are identifying
We record the state each identification comes from. Kansas's list appears here once it has at least 40 identifications spread over 7 or more days — so no single scan stands out. Until then, see the national list, or add yours:
Identify a weed from a photoWeeds to watch in Kansas this fall
Questions about Kansas
When should I apply crabgrass pre-emergent in Kansas?
Put crabgrass pre-emergent down as soil warms to 50°F, before it holds 55°F and crabgrass starts germinating. In a typical year (2016–2025) that window is Mar 24 – Apr 10 in Wichita; Mar 23 – Apr 7 in Topeka; Mar 22 – Apr 7 in Overland Park; Mar 27 – Apr 11 in Garden City.
When should I apply fall pre-emergent in Kansas?
Winter weeds such as annual bluegrass, henbit and chickweed start germinating as soil cools to about 75°F in late summer and fall, and most come up once it is below 70°F. Have fall pre-emergent down before they start: typically by Sep 7 in Wichita; by Aug 25 in Topeka; by Aug 26 in Overland Park; by Aug 26 in Garden City. Skip it if you are overseeding this fall, because it stops grass seed too.
What is the soil temperature in Kansas right now?
As of Nov 3, 1:18 AM CT: Wichita 64°F, Topeka 64°F, Overland Park 65°F, Garden City 58°F (5-day average, about 2.4 inches down). Winter weeds are germinating — apply now if you haven't: Wichita. Winter weeds are up — spot-treat: Topeka, Overland Park and Garden City.
How the readings and dates are made, and their limits: Weed Watch method. Soil data: Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0); typical dates: NASA POWER.