Pre-emergent timing at altitude: Colorado Springs, Castle Rock and Monument
Updated October 23, 2026. Live numbers refresh hourly.
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At higher Front Range elevations like Colorado Springs, Castle Rock and Monument, put pre-emergent down when your own soil holds 50–55°F, which often comes later than in Denver, rather than copying a metro-wide date. Today the 0–4 inch soil around Colorado Springs, CO averages 56°F and is warming.
- Soil today
- 56°F
- +6.8°F over 7 days
Live data for Colorado Springs, CO. Check your own ZIP below for local numbers.
Our picks
Chosen from the research below and the makers' own listings. We haven't lab-tested them.
- Late, uneven springs at altitude
Jonathan Green Season-Long Weed Preventer
3rd leafcrabgrass stage it still controls (Jonathan Green)
A granular dithiopyr (Dimension) preventer with no fertilizer. Besides stopping seeds, Jonathan Green says it controls crabgrass that has already come up, to the third leaf stage, which gives some slack if a warm spell beats you to the window.
- Homeowners with a spreader
The Andersons Barricade 0.48% Prodiamine Pre-Emergent (APTDG48BR18A, 18 lb)
5,800sq ft per 18 lb bag (Andersons)
A straight granular prodiamine with no fertilizer, spread with an ordinary broadcast spreader and watered in. Andersons times its spring application to before 4-inch soil reaches 55°F, the same trigger this guide tracks.
- Pros and big lawns with a sprayer
Prodiamine 65 WDG
65%prodiamine (DoMyOwn listing)
The concentrated, sprayable form of prodiamine. It's mixed with water and sprayed, which suits people who already own a calibrated sprayer or treat a lot of turf; DoMyOwn lists spring and fall use.
- Pros who want early post control
Dimension 2EW herbicide
5-leafcrabgrass stage it still controls (DoMyOwn)
The liquid, professional form of dithiopyr. DoMyOwn lists it as pre-emergent plus early post-emergent on crabgrass up to the five-leaf stage, with single or split applications.
Side by side
| Pick | Best for | Form | Active ingredient | Covers | Young crabgrass already up | Retailer link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Green Season-Long Weed Preventer | Late, uneven springs at altitude | Granular (spreader) | Dithiopyr (Dimension) | 5,000 sq ft per 10 lb; 15,000 sq ft per 30 lb | Up to the 3rd leaf stage (Jonathan Green) | Check price at Jonathan Green |
| The Andersons Barricade 0.48% Prodiamine Pre-Emergent (APTDG48BR18A, 18 lb) | Homeowners with a spreader | Granular (spreader) | Prodiamine 0.48% | 5,800 sq ft per 18 lb; 12,880 sq ft per 40 lb | No (prevents only) | Check price at Andersons |
| Prodiamine 65 WDG | Pros and big lawns with a sprayer | Water-dispersible granule, sprayed | Prodiamine 65% | 0.185–0.55 oz per 1,000 sq ft (label rate); 5 lb jug | No (prevents only) | Check price at DoMyOwn |
| Dimension 2EW herbicide | Pros who want early post control | Liquid concentrate, sprayed | Dithiopyr 24% (2 lb per gallon) | 0.28–0.73 oz per 1,000 sq ft (label rate); 64 oz jug | Up to the 5-leaf stage (DoMyOwn) | Check price at DoMyOwn |
Forms, active ingredients, coverage and early post-emergent claims are from each maker's page or the linked DoMyOwn listing. A dash means the maker doesn't list it.
Jonathan Green Season-Long Weed Preventer
Late, uneven springs at altitude
A granular dithiopyr (Dimension) preventer with no fertilizer. Besides stopping seeds, Jonathan Green says it controls crabgrass that has already come up, to the third leaf stage, which gives some slack if a warm spell beats you to the window.
Why we picked it
- Contains Dimension (dithiopyr) and no fertilizer, so it can go down on its own schedule (Jonathan Green).
- Jonathan Green says one application lasts 3 to 4 months and suggests early spring plus a second application by the end of May for the whole crabgrass season.
- Sold in 10 lb (up to 5,000 sq ft) and 30 lb (up to 15,000 sq ft) bags.
Downsides
- Wait 90 days after applying before you plant grass seed, and 60 days after seeding before you apply (Jonathan Green).
- Post-emergent control is limited to young crabgrass; other weeds have to be prevented before they germinate.
- Water in about 1/2 in after applying to activate it (Jonathan Green).
- Form
- Granular (spreader)
- Active ingredient
- Dithiopyr (Dimension)
- Covers
- 5,000 sq ft per 10 lb; 15,000 sq ft per 30 lb
- Young crabgrass already up
- Up to the 3rd leaf stage (Jonathan Green)
- Fertilizer
- None
The Andersons Barricade 0.48% Prodiamine Pre-Emergent (APTDG48BR18A, 18 lb)
Homeowners with a spreader
A straight granular prodiamine with no fertilizer, spread with an ordinary broadcast spreader and watered in. Andersons times its spring application to before 4-inch soil reaches 55°F, the same trigger this guide tracks.
Why we picked it
- 0.48% prodiamine on Andersons' dispersible granule, which it says breaks down when watered and moves into the soil.
- Andersons lists 30 grass and broadleaf weeds it prevents, including crabgrass, goosegrass, poa annua and henbit.
- Comes in 18 lb (up to 5,800 sq ft) and 40 lb (up to 12,880 sq ft) bags; spreader settings are posted on the product page.
Downsides
- Prevention only: Andersons says it won't eliminate weeds that are already up, and it doesn't prevent dandelions or clover.
- It needs at least 0.2 in of water to activate (Andersons).
- It stops grass seed too. Andersons says to wait at least 4 months before seeding, longer at higher rates.
- Form
- Granular (spreader)
- Active ingredient
- Prodiamine 0.48%
- Covers
- 5,800 sq ft per 18 lb; 12,880 sq ft per 40 lb
- Young crabgrass already up
- No (prevents only)
- Fertilizer
- None
- Model
- Andersons APTDG48BR18A (18 lb)
Prodiamine 65 WDG
Pros and big lawns with a sprayer
The concentrated, sprayable form of prodiamine. It's mixed with water and sprayed, which suits people who already own a calibrated sprayer or treat a lot of turf; DoMyOwn lists spring and fall use.
Why we picked it
- 65% prodiamine water-dispersible granule from Quali-Pro (EPA Reg. 53883-429), sold in a 5 lb jug.
- DoMyOwn lists a label rate of 0.185 to 0.55 oz per 1,000 sq ft, so a small jug goes a long way.
- Water in with about 1/2 in of rain or irrigation, per the listing; DoMyOwn gives a 3-year shelf life.
Downsides
- You need a sprayer and have to mix and measure small amounts accurately.
- Prevention only: it doesn't kill weeds that are already up (DoMyOwn).
- DoMyOwn doesn't sell it to Alaska or New York, where it's restricted to licensed applicators.
- Form
- Water-dispersible granule, sprayed
- Active ingredient
- Prodiamine 65%
- Covers
- 0.185–0.55 oz per 1,000 sq ft (label rate); 5 lb jug
- Young crabgrass already up
- No (prevents only)
- Model
- Quali-Pro 83013356
Dimension 2EW herbicide
Pros who want early post control
The liquid, professional form of dithiopyr. DoMyOwn lists it as pre-emergent plus early post-emergent on crabgrass up to the five-leaf stage, with single or split applications.
Why we picked it
- 24% dithiopyr (2 lb active per gallon) from Corteva, EPA Reg. 62719-542.
- Label rate of 0.28 to 0.73 oz per 1,000 sq ft; DoMyOwn says a 1/2 gallon treats 2 to 4 acres.
- Non-staining and low odor, per the listing.
Downsides
- Sold in 64 oz and larger jugs, more than most single lawns need.
- It needs 1/2 in of rain or irrigation, ideally within 7 days (DoMyOwn).
- DoMyOwn doesn't sell it to New York.
- Form
- Liquid concentrate, sprayed
- Active ingredient
- Dithiopyr 24% (2 lb per gallon)
- Covers
- 0.28–0.73 oz per 1,000 sq ft (label rate); 64 oz jug
- Young crabgrass already up
- Up to the 5-leaf stage (DoMyOwn)
- Maker
- Corteva
Elevation shifts the window
Colorado Springs sits roughly 900 feet above Denver, and Monument and the Palmer Divide sit higher still. Cooler nights and later snowmelt mean soil there often reaches crabgrass temperatures later than in the metro. The threshold itself doesn't change: Michigan State University's target is soil consistently at 50–55°F in the top two inches, with germination starting after about four to five days at 55°F.
Because of that, the right move for a lawn in Black Forest or Woodmoor is to watch local soil numbers rather than follow ads timed to Denver. Our Colorado Springs page shows the modeled soil temperature and a 10-day outlook for the area.
Microclimates matter more than the town name
Within one neighborhood, soil temperature varies with aspect and surfaces. South-facing front yards, hell strips next to concrete, and rock-mulched beds heat quickly. North-facing lawns shaded by evergreens or a house can lag by weeks. Treat the warm spots first if you split applications.
Our soil data is modeled on a grid about 17 miles across, so it represents the area, not your yard. A simple soil thermometer pushed 2 inches into the warmest part of the lawn in mid-morning is a good local check. If it reads 50°F or above several mornings in a row, it's time.
Product residual and a long cool spring
Purdue notes typical pre-emergents keep working for roughly 60 to 120 days depending on product and rate. At altitude, where crabgrass germination can run late into early summer, an application made right at the start of the window covers more of the season. Some pros split the labeled annual rate into two applications several weeks apart for longer coverage; check the label for whether a split is allowed.
Colorado State University's fertilizer table puts the first spring feeding from mid-March to April 1 and notes it may be skipped if you fed late last fall. On lawns that already greened up, a pre-emergent without fertilizer is fine.
- Apply to dry turf and water in per the label.
- Avoid applying before a forecast of heavy wet snow on slopes.
- Don't seed for the life of the product unless the label allows it.
Questions
Is pre-emergent timing different in Colorado Springs than Denver?
The soil temperature trigger is the same (50–55°F), but higher, cooler sites usually reach it later. Use local soil temperature rather than Denver's timing.
Do I need pre-emergent above 7,000 feet?
Crabgrass is less common in cool mountain lawns, but foothill towns with warm, sunny exposures can still get it. If you've had crabgrass before, treat based on soil temperature.
How accurate is the soil temperature on this page?
It's a modeled daily mean for the 0–10 cm layer from NOAA's GFS model. It reflects the area, so check a warm spot in your own lawn with a soil thermometer.
Which pre-emergent helps if I miss the window at altitude?
Dithiopyr (Dimension) products also control crabgrass that has just come up: Jonathan Green says Season-Long Weed Preventer works to the third leaf stage, and DoMyOwn lists Dimension 2EW to the five-leaf stage. Prodiamine only prevents.
Bottom line
At Colorado Springs, Castle Rock and Monument, apply when your own soil holds 50–55°F, which often comes later than Denver, and check a warm spot with a soil thermometer. A dithiopyr granular gives slack on young crabgrass if a long cool spring makes timing hard; straight prodiamine works if you're on time. Water in per the label and don't seed for the life of the product.
Check price at Jonathan GreenJonathan Green Season-Long Weed Preventer
Sources
- Michigan State University Extension: Timing crabgrass pre-emergence applications
- Michigan State University: Crabgrass weed biology
- Purdue Extension: Do you get crabby about crabgrass?
- Colorado State University Extension: Lawn Care Basics (7.202)
- The Andersons: Barricade 0.48% prodiamine pre-emergent product page
- Jonathan Green: Season-Long Weed Preventer product page
- DoMyOwn: Prodiamine 65 WDG listing
- DoMyOwn: Dimension 2EW herbicide listing
Soil temperatures: NOAA GFS model, 0–10 cm layer. Snow: NOAA and National Weather Service. See how we measure.