California soil temperature
Estimated 2–4 inch soil temperature, statewide average . Based on NOAA weather stations near representative California locations.
Check your exact ZIP
Enter your ZIP code for the estimated soil temperature near you, plus what it means for seasonal pre-emergent timing. Use the separate tools below for other lawn tasks.
Estimated soil temperature
Estimated from NOAA air-temperature records with a lag model (about ±5°F at 2–4 inch depth) — see the methodology.
Data details
Worth buying for this timing
Options for your pre-emergent timing
Some links are sponsored. We may earn a commission, but your ZIP result determines which product types we show.
Full-season preventive
Prodiamine
Prodiamine 65 WDG
Best fit: You are approaching or inside the pre-emergent window and want the longest barrier from one application.
This is the value play: one correctly timed barrier can protect the season instead of chasing weeds later.
Cannot kill already-germinated weeds
Late-window preventive
Dithiopyr
Dimension 2EW
Best fit: Your timing is tight and you want the common pre-emergent with limited early crabgrass activity.
Helps avoid buying a long-residual product after the window has narrowed.
Shorter residual than Prodiamine
Not a rescue treatment for mature or widespread visible crabgrass.
Granular easy application
Pendimethalin
Scotts Halts / Pendulum
Best fit: You want a spreader-ready option instead of mixing and spraying a liquid product.
Trades pro-style mixing for a simpler job you can finish while timing still matters.
Can stain concrete and other hard surfaces; sweep granules off them after spreading
Overseeding-compatible option
Mesotrione
Tenacity / Torocity
Best fit: You are overseeding a compatible cool-season lawn during the fall weed-prevention window.
Preserves the overseeding plan while providing a seeding-compatible alternative to standard pre-emergents.
Turf-species restrictions and application rates vary; follow the product label
Sun & Shade Seed Mix
Sun & Shade Seed Mix
Scotts Turf Builder Sun & Shade Mix / Jonathan Green Black Beauty
Best fit: Northern lawns with mixed sun and shade; general-purpose overseeding
Check the label, coverage area, and current price before you buy.
Mixed-species blends establish unevenly if the seedbed is not kept moist
Tall Fescue Seed + Starter Food
Tall Fescue Seed + Starter Food
Scotts Turf Builder Rapid Grass
Best fit: Transition-zone and southern cool-season lawns; heat and drought tolerance
Check the label, coverage area, and current price before you buy.
Coarser blade than bluegrass; will not spread to fill bare spots on its own
Timing check
Soil Thermometer
Urban Worm 5-in stem / Taylor 4-in stem
Best fit: You want to confirm this estimate in your own yard before you apply.
This tracker models soil temperature from NOAA air observations, so expect about ±5°F against a reading taken at 2 inches in your own soil.
Read the same spot at the same time of day; one warm afternoon is not a trend
What this soil temperature means for your California lawn
The California reading loads from the latest daily data. Use the value above or enter your ZIP code for a location-specific recommendation.
California soil is still cold, and most lawn chemicals are on hold. The main job now is planning: spring pre-emergent goes down as soil approaches 55°F — in California, typically january to march (varies by region).
Track your exact ZIP above, and see when to apply pre-emergent in California for the full spring playbook. Seeding follows published regional calendars rather than this reading; see overseeding in California.
California soil is in the 50–65°F action band — the range where the big timing decisions happen. Crabgrass germinates as soil holds 55°F and above, so spring pre-emergent is either due or already late. It is also the recovery range for core aeration.
Check pre-emergent timing for California or aeration to act on this window. Seeding follows published regional calendars rather than this reading; see overseeding in California.
California soil is warm (65–80°F). Spring pre-emergent windows have passed. This is peak season for warm-season growth — and for soil-driven pest timing: grub eggs hatch in warm midsummer soil.
Check grub control timing for California, and plan ahead for fall: aeration opens up as soil cools back through 72°F, and overseeding follows published regional calendars.
California soil is hot (above 80°F). Warm-season lawns (Bermuda Grass, St. Augustine Grass, Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass) are in peak growth; cool-season lawns are in survival mode and need height and water, not projects.
Use the wait to plan fall work: aeration in California starts once soil falls back toward 72°F, and overseeding follows published regional calendars.
Estimated soil temperature at California locations
| ZIP code | Est. soil temp | Data through |
|---|---|---|
| 90001 | — | Loading… |
| 94102 | — | Loading… |
| 92101 | — | Loading… |
| 95814 | — | Loading… |
Values load from each ZIP's nearest NOAA station in the current R2 snapshot. Enter your own ZIP above for a reading closer to home.
How California compares to the rest of the country
Estimated 2–4 inch soil temperature by state . Tap a state for its detailed page.
About California lawns
California is in USDA Hardiness Zones 5a-11a, with a warm-season lawn climate. Common grass types include Bermuda Grass, St. Augustine Grass, Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass.
These estimates are modeled from air temperature (about ±5°F at 2–4 inch depth — methodology). For local agronomic guidance, see the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR).
Common California soil temperature questions
What is the current soil temperature in California?
This page shows a statewide estimated 2–4 inch soil temperature for California, recomputed daily from NOAA weather station records, plus per-ZIP estimates for representative California locations. Enter your ZIP code for the reading nearest you.
At what soil temperature should I apply pre-emergent in California?
Apply pre-emergent when California soil temperatures approach 55°F at a 2–4 inch depth in spring — crabgrass germinates as soil holds 55°F and above. In California that typically happens january to march (varies by region).
What soil temperature does grass seed need in California?
Soil temperature alone does not set a seeding date. Seeding timing for common California lawns (Bermuda Grass, St. Augustine Grass, Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass) follows published regional calendars for each grass type; the overseeding tool shows any calendar available for your ZIP, with this estimate as context.
How accurate is this California soil temperature estimate?
It is modeled from air temperatures with a published lag model, not measured by in-ground sensors, and is typically within about ±5°F at 2–4 inch depth. Shade, moisture, and snow cover shift real readings; for precise numbers use a soil thermometer or University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) resources.