New York City
Treat broadleaf57°F↑ warming
Fall is the best time to treat dandelions and clover: they pull weed killer down to their roots.
Broadleaf window Sep 29 – Nov 19
New York Weed Watch · updated Nov 3, 1:18 AM CT
When to apply pre-emergent in New York
Live soil temperatures for New York City, Albany, Syracuse and Buffalo, updated every three hours. Weeds sprout by soil temperature, not by the calendar, so the right week moves from year to year.
In New York, pre-emergent is a spring job: it stops crabgrass. Fall is seeding season here, so fall weed control means treating broadleaf weeds instead.
Spring pre-emergentNext season
Typically Mar 27 – May 13
Stops crabgrass and other summer weeds before they sprout.
Fall: no pre-emergentThis season
Treat broadleaf weeds Sep 1 – Nov 19
Fall is seeding season here, and pre-emergent would stop grass seed too.
Right now · fall (seeding season)
Treat broadleaf weeds now across New York
Soil is 50–57°F now. In fall, dandelions, clover and creeping Charlie pull sugars — and weed killer — down to their roots. Seeding 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.
Albany
Treat broadleaf50°F↑ warming
Fall is the best time to treat dandelions and clover: they pull weed killer down to their roots.
Broadleaf window Sep 1 – Oct 28
Syracuse
Treat broadleaf54°F↑ warming
Fall is the best time to treat dandelions and clover: they pull weed killer down to their roots.
Broadleaf window Sep 3 – Oct 27
Buffalo
Treat broadleaf57°F→ steady
Fall is the best time to treat dandelions and clover: they pull weed killer down to their roots.
Broadleaf window Sep 13 – Nov 2
New York 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). In fall New York lawns are in seeding season, so there is no fall pre-emergent; the window shown is for treating broadleaf weeds instead, from September until two weeks after soil usually cools to 55°F.
| City | Spring pre-emergent (crabgrass) | Fall (seeding season) |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | Mar 27 – Apr 15 | None (seeding season) · treat broadleaf Sep 29 – Nov 19 |
| Albany | Apr 21 – May 4 | None (seeding season) · treat broadleaf Sep 1 – Oct 28 |
| Syracuse | Apr 22 – May 6 | None (seeding season) · treat broadleaf Sep 3 – Oct 27 |
| Buffalo | Apr 24 – May 13 | None (seeding season) · treat broadleaf Sep 13 – Nov 2 |
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.
What people in New York are identifying
We record the state each identification comes from. New York'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 York this fall
Questions about New York
When should I apply crabgrass pre-emergent in New York?
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 27 – Apr 15 in New York City; Apr 21 – May 4 in Albany; Apr 22 – May 6 in Syracuse; Apr 24 – May 13 in Buffalo.
Should I put down pre-emergent in the fall in New York?
Usually not. Fall is the best time to seed a cool-season lawn in New York, and pre-emergent stops grass seed as well as weeds. Fall is the time to treat broadleaf weeds such as dandelion, clover and creeping Charlie, once the summer heat breaks and while they are still growing.
What is the soil temperature in New York right now?
As of Nov 3, 1:18 AM CT: New York City 57°F, Albany 50°F, Syracuse 54°F, Buffalo 57°F (5-day average, about 2.4 inches down). Treat broadleaf weeds now across New York.
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.