Columbia
Apply ASAP64°F↑ warming
Soil has cooled to 75°F, so winter weeds are sprouting. Pre-emergent still stops later flushes.
Winter weeds are sprouting now
South Carolina Weed Watch · updated Nov 3, 1:18 AM CT
When to apply pre-emergent in South Carolina
Live soil temperatures for Columbia, Charleston and Greenville, updated every three hours. Weeds sprout by soil temperature, not by the calendar, so the right week moves from year to year.
South Carolina 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 Feb 8 – Mar 16
Stops crabgrass and other summer weeds before they sprout.
Fall pre-emergentThis season
Typically by Aug 27 – Sep 15
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: Columbia and Charleston. Winter weeds are up — spot-treat: Greenville
Soil is 60–68°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.
Charleston
Apply ASAP68°F→ steady
Soil has cooled to 75°F, so winter weeds are sprouting. Pre-emergent still stops later flushes.
Winter weeds are sprouting now
Greenville
Spot-treat60°F↑ warming
Winter weeds are up. Spot-treat them on a mild day, or in early spring before they flower.
Winter weeds are up
South Carolina 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Columbia | Feb 8 – Feb 25 | Apply by Sep 12 |
| Charleston | Feb 8 – Feb 16 | Apply by Sep 15 |
| Greenville | Feb 25 – Mar 16 | Apply by Aug 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.
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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
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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 South Carolina are identifying
We record the state each identification comes from. South Carolina'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 South Carolina this fall
Questions about South Carolina
When should I apply crabgrass pre-emergent in South Carolina?
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 8 – Feb 25 in Columbia; Feb 8 – Feb 16 in Charleston; Feb 25 – Mar 16 in Greenville.
When should I apply fall pre-emergent in South Carolina?
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 Columbia; by Sep 15 in Charleston; by Aug 27 in Greenville. Skip it if you are overseeding this fall, because it stops grass seed too.
What is the soil temperature in South Carolina right now?
As of Nov 3, 1:18 AM CT: Columbia 64°F, Charleston 68°F, Greenville 60°F (5-day average, about 2.4 inches down). Winter weeds are germinating — apply now if you haven't: Columbia and Charleston. Winter weeds are up — spot-treat: Greenville.
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.