Nevada Weed Watch · updated Nov 2, 10:07 PM CT

When to apply pre-emergent in Nevada

Live soil temperatures for Las Vegas and Reno, updated every three hours. Weeds sprout by soil temperature, not by the calendar, so the right week moves from year to year.

Most Nevada lawns get pre-emergent twice a year: in spring for crabgrass and in fall for winter weeds. In Reno, cool summers mean fall seeding, so it is spring only there.

Spring pre-emergentNext season
Typically Feb 6 – Apr 24
Stops crabgrass and other summer weeds before they sprout.
Fall pre-emergentThis season
Typically by Oct 8
Stops winter weeds (annual bluegrass, henbit, chickweed) before they sprout.
Skip it if you are overseeding this fall. Not in Reno.
Right now · fall pre-emergent season
Winter weeds are germinating — apply now if you haven't: Las Vegas. Treat broadleaf weeds now: Reno

Soil is 46–65°F now. They keep coming up in flushes into winter, so pre-emergent still helps. Overseeding this fall? Skip pre-emergent — it stops grass seed too.

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.

Las Vegas

Apply ASAP
65°F↓ cooling

Soil has cooled to 75°F, so winter weeds are sprouting. Pre-emergent still stops later flushes.

75°Ftoday

Winter weeds are sprouting now

Reno

Treat broadleaf
46°F→ steady

Fall is the best time to treat dandelions and clover: they pull weed killer down to their roots.

today

Broadleaf window Sep 10 – Oct 27

Nevada 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.

CitySpring pre-emergent (crabgrass)Fall pre-emergent (winter weeds)
Las VegasFeb 6 – Feb 22Apply by Oct 8
RenoApr 5 – Apr 24None (seeding season) · treat broadleaf Sep 10 – Oct 27

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

Scotts Halts Crabgrass & Grassy Weed Preventer

Beginner friendly

Pendimethalingranularcovers ~5,000 sq ft / 0.11 ac$24.97as of Nov 2, 10:00 AM UTC · may change
View at Amazon
Amazon

The Andersons Barricade Professional-Grade Granular

Beginner friendly

0.48% Prodiaminegranularcovers ~12,880 sq ft / 0.30 ac$79.88as of Nov 2, 10:00 AM UTC · may change
View at Amazon
Amazon

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
View at Amazon

What people in Nevada are identifying

We record the state each identification comes from. Nevada'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 photo

Weeds to watch in Nevada this fall

Annual bluegrass (Poa annua)germinates as soil drops below 70°F · how to treat →Henbitwinter annual, purple spring flowers · how to treat →Chickweedwinter annual, mats in thin turf · how to treat →

Questions about Nevada

When should I apply crabgrass pre-emergent in Nevada?

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 Feb 6 – Feb 22 in Las Vegas; Apr 5 – Apr 24 in Reno.

When should I apply fall pre-emergent in Nevada?

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 Oct 8 in Las Vegas. Skip it if you are overseeding this fall, because it stops grass seed too. In Reno, cool summers mean cool-season lawns and fall seeding, so skip fall pre-emergent there and treat broadleaf weeds instead.

What is the soil temperature in Nevada right now?

As of Nov 2, 10:07 PM CT: Las Vegas 65°F, Reno 46°F (5-day average, about 2.4 inches down). Winter weeds are germinating — apply now if you haven't: Las Vegas. Treat broadleaf weeds now: Reno.

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.