What is the current soil temperature in Virginia?
This page shows a statewide estimated 2–4 inch soil temperature for Virginia, recomputed daily from NOAA weather station records, plus per-ZIP estimates for representative Virginia locations. Enter your ZIP code for the reading nearest you.
At what soil temperature should I apply pre-emergent in Virginia?
Apply pre-emergent when Virginia soil temperatures approach 55°F at a 2–4 inch depth in spring — crabgrass germinates as soil holds 55°F and above. In Virginia that typically happens late february to mid-april.
What soil temperature does grass seed need in Virginia?
Soil temperature alone does not set a seeding date. Seeding timing for common Virginia lawns (Tall Fescue, Kentucky Bluegrass, Bermuda Grass, Zoysia Grass) 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 Virginia 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 Virginia Cooperative Extension resources.
When does soil temperature reach 55 degrees in Virginia Beach and Tidewater?
Usually by mid-to-late March, the earliest in the state. The Atlantic and the Chesapeake Bay blunt cold snaps, and the coastal plain's sandy soils warm quickly once days lengthen. Warm springs can push the crossing into early March, which is why Tidewater spring lawn deadlines land weeks before the rest of Virginia.
What soil temperature does bermuda grass need to green up in Virginia?
Bermuda begins breaking dormancy when soil at 4 inches approaches 65°F and greens up fully as it holds near 70°F, typically late April to mid-May in southern and eastern Virginia. A patchy, slow green-up usually means the soil is still cycling through the low 60s, not that the lawn is dead, so patience beats early nitrogen.
How much colder is soil in the Shenandoah Valley than in Richmond?
Through spring, valley soil typically runs 4-6°F behind Richmond on the same day, translating to two to three weeks of timing delay. The valley floor sits roughly 1,000-1,500 feet higher, and cold air draining off the Blue Ridge and Alleghenies pools there overnight, adding frost nights that hold soil averages down into April.