Wyoming Weed Watch · updated Nov 3, 1:18 AM CT

When to apply pre-emergent in Wyoming

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

In Wyoming, 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 May 1 – May 22
Stops crabgrass and other summer weeds before they sprout.
Fall: no pre-emergentThis season
Treat broadleaf weeds Sep 1 – Oct 18
Fall is seeding season here, and pre-emergent would stop grass seed too.
Right now · fall (seeding season)
Treat broadleaf weeds now: Cheyenne and Casper. Broadleaf season over: Sheridan

Soil is 41–48°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.

Cheyenne

Treat broadleaf
48°F↓ cooling

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

today

Broadleaf window Sep 1 – Oct 16

Casper

Treat broadleaf
46°F↓ cooling

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

today

Broadleaf window Sep 1 – Oct 17

Sheridan

Done for now
41°F→ steady

Done for this year. Spot-treat on a mild day, or wait for spring.

today

Broadleaf window Sep 1 – Oct 18

Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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.

CitySpring pre-emergent (crabgrass)Fall (seeding season)
CheyenneMay 12 – May 21None (seeding season) · treat broadleaf Sep 1 – Oct 16
CasperMay 1 – May 19None (seeding season) · treat broadleaf Sep 1 – Oct 17
SheridanMay 9 – May 22None (seeding season) · treat broadleaf Sep 1 – Oct 18

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 Wyoming are identifying

We record the state each identification comes from. Wyoming'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 Wyoming this fall

Dandelionfall is the best time to treat · how to treat →White clovertreat while still growing · how to treat →Creeping Charlieneeds triclopyr; fall works best · how to treat →

Questions about Wyoming

When should I apply crabgrass pre-emergent in Wyoming?

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 May 12 – May 21 in Cheyenne; May 1 – May 19 in Casper; May 9 – May 22 in Sheridan.

Should I put down pre-emergent in the fall in Wyoming?

Usually not. Fall is the best time to seed a cool-season lawn in Wyoming, 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 Wyoming right now?

As of Nov 3, 1:18 AM CT: Cheyenne 48°F, Casper 46°F, Sheridan 41°F (5-day average, about 2.4 inches down). Treat broadleaf weeds now: Cheyenne and Casper. Broadleaf season over: Sheridan.

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.