Albuquerque
Apply ASAP58°F↓ cooling
Soil has cooled to 75°F, so winter weeds are sprouting. Pre-emergent still stops later flushes.
Winter weeds are sprouting now
New Mexico Weed Watch · updated Nov 3, 1:18 AM CT
When to apply pre-emergent in New Mexico
Live soil temperatures for Albuquerque, Santa Fe and Las Cruces, updated every three hours. Weeds sprout by soil temperature, not by the calendar, so the right week moves from year to year.
Most New Mexico lawns get pre-emergent twice a year: in spring for crabgrass and in fall for winter weeds. In Santa Fe, cool summers mean fall seeding, so it is spring only there.
Spring pre-emergentNext season
Typically Feb 8 – Apr 17
Stops crabgrass and other summer weeds before they sprout.
Fall pre-emergentThis season
Typically by Sep 12 – Sep 30
Stops winter weeds (annual bluegrass, henbit, chickweed) before they sprout.
Skip it if you are overseeding this fall. Not in Santa Fe.
Right now · fall pre-emergent season
Winter weeds are germinating — apply now if you haven't: Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Treat broadleaf weeds now: Santa Fe
Soil is 50–64°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.
Santa Fe
Treat broadleaf50°F↓ cooling
Fall is the best time to treat dandelions and clover: they pull weed killer down to their roots.
Broadleaf window Sep 2 – Oct 23
Las Cruces
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
New Mexico 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque | Mar 11 – Apr 2 | Apply by Sep 12 |
| Santa Fe | Apr 4 – Apr 17 | None (seeding season) · treat broadleaf Sep 2 – Oct 23 |
| Las Cruces | Feb 8 – Feb 25 | Apply by Sep 30 |
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.
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Scotts Halts Crabgrass & Grassy Weed Preventer
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The Andersons Barricade Professional-Grade Granular
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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 New Mexico are identifying
We record the state each identification comes from. New Mexico'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 New Mexico this fall
Questions about New Mexico
When should I apply crabgrass pre-emergent in New Mexico?
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 11 – Apr 2 in Albuquerque; Apr 4 – Apr 17 in Santa Fe; Feb 8 – Feb 25 in Las Cruces.
When should I apply fall pre-emergent in New Mexico?
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 12 in Albuquerque; by Sep 30 in Las Cruces. Skip it if you are overseeding this fall, because it stops grass seed too. In Santa Fe, 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 New Mexico right now?
As of Nov 3, 1:18 AM CT: Albuquerque 58°F, Santa Fe 50°F, Las Cruces 64°F (5-day average, about 2.4 inches down). Winter weeds are germinating — apply now if you haven't: Albuquerque and Las Cruces. Treat broadleaf weeds now: Santa Fe.
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.