Best days to apply pre-emergent in Winston-Salem, NC this week
Here's the next 7 days for putting down pre-emergent in Winston-Salem, checked hour by hour against the published thresholds. Below it: what Winston-Salem's 1991–2020 climate averages say about the months that usually work.
This week in Winston-Salem
Asking the sky…
Fairsky is not a substitute for official warnings. For warnings, go to weather.gov. Verdicts are guidance, not guarantees. Your product's label always wins.
When putting down pre-emergent usually works in Winston-Salem
- On 1991–2020 averages, Winston-Salem reaches 200 growing degree days (base 50°F, counted from January 1) during April. Purdue's turf research ties crabgrass emergence to about 200 GDD.
- Fairsky aims to have pre-emergent down by about 150 GDD, which the averages reach during March. Real years run early or late, which is why the live soil estimate above matters.
- The normal daily mean temperature first reaches 50°F in March and 55°F in April. Shallow soil follows the multi-day air average, and crabgrass starts sprouting once soil holds about 55°F.
| Month | Avg high | Avg low | Days ≥0.10" rain | GDD50 to date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 49° | 31° | 5.7 | 23 |
| February | 53° | 33° | 6.1 | 60 |
| March | 61° | 40° | 6.8 | 186 |
| April | 71° | 48° | 6.6 | 488 |
| May | 78° | 57° | 7.1 | 1030 |
| June | 85° | 65° | 7.4 | 1784 |
| July | 88° | 69° | 8.0 | 2671 |
| August | 86° | 68° | 6.6 | 3508 |
| September | 80° | 61° | 5.9 | 4127 |
| October | 71° | 49° | 5.2 | 4448 |
| November | 60° | 39° | 5.0 | 4544 |
| December | 52° | 34° | 6.0 | 4578 |
Station: Winston Salem Rynlds Airport (NOAA NCEI USW00093807), about 4 km from central Winston-Salem. “Rain days” count days with 0.10" or more of precipitation.
The rules we check
- Soil temperature is estimated from the average air temperature over about five days (past and forecast); Fairsky labels it as an estimate.
- Spring: below about 50°F soil it's too early; roughly 50–58°F is prime time; up to 65°F is late but not lost; above that, crabgrass is already up.
- Rain helps: about a quarter to half an inch in the next three days waters it in. More than an inch in the next 24 hours means hold off, since a downpour can wash granules away. (Fairsky default: no source gave a number)
- Fall (August–October, soil 55–70°F): a window for winter weeds like henbit, chickweed and Poa annua.
- Wind under 20 mph while spreading. (Fairsky default: no source gave a number)
Your product's label always wins. Labels differ by product; in the app you can enter your label's temperature range and rain-free hours, and the verdict uses them instead.
Sources: Purdue Turf: pre-emergence timing · K-State: predicting crabgrass emergence · Iowa State: how to control crabgrass
More home and yard jobs in Winston-Salem
- Stain a deckDeck and fence stain: 50–90°F, dry wood, 24 rain-free hours after.
- Paint a house exteriorExterior latex paint: 40°F and up, 5°F above the dew point, 4 dry hours after.
- Pour concreteConcrete: 40–85°F, no rain for 24 hours, no freezing for 48.
- Spray weedsWeed killer: 3–10 mph wind, 45–85°F, 4 rain-free hours after.
- Plant grass seedCool-season grass seed: soil about 50–65°F, highs 60–80°F, no washout rain.
- Seal a drivewayAsphalt sealcoat: 55°F and rising, 50°F overnight, 36 rain-free hours.
- Cover plants for frostFrost watch: cover at 34°F, or 36°F on clear, calm nights; 28°F is a hard freeze.
The app covers 47 activities in all, from mowing to a round of golf: see every activity and its rules.
Apply pre-emergent in nearby cities
- Greensboro, NC25 miles away
- Charlotte, NC69 miles away
- Durham, NC76 miles away
- Raleigh, NC93 miles away
- Greenville, SC149 miles away
- Columbia, SC152 miles away
All apply pre-emergent cities: Apply pre-emergent, by city · Home and yard in North Carolina
Questions
How is this verdict made?
We take the National Weather Service hourly forecast for Winston-Salem and check each hour against the thresholds listed above. The result is guidance, not a guarantee; your product's label always wins.
When should I put down pre-emergent in Winston-Salem?
Before crabgrass germinates, which follows soil warming into the mid-50s °F. The verdict above estimates Winston-Salem's soil temperature from the forecast; follow your product's label.
Fairsky is not a substitute for official warnings. For warnings, go to weather.gov.
Live forecasts: National Weather Service / NOAA (public domain), fetched by your browser. Climate averages: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020 (public domain). Activity thresholds: product data sheets, ACI and university extension guidance, linked on each page; your product’s label wins.