YEAR-ROUND GUIDE • BISMARCK, ND
Bismarck Yard Care Calendar: What to Do Each Month
Bismarck gives you about 129 days between the last spring frost, around May 12 to 14, and the first fall frost, around September 20 to 25. That’s a short window, and most yard jobs have a right week and a wrong week. This calendar puts every job in its month, based on NDSU Extension guidance, City of Bismarck rules and NOAA climate data. Almanac.com’s Bismarck frost dates, built on NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals, put the frost dates in the same range.
Dates are typical, not promised. Bismarck weather can shift a job a week or two either way, so watch the forecast for anything frost-sensitive.
THE YEAR AT A GLANCE • TIMING THAT MATTERS
Key Bismarck Yard Dates at a Glance
| What | Typical date in Bismarck | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Last spring frost | Around May 12 to 14 | NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals |
| First fall frost | Around September 20 to 25 | NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals |
| Crabgrass preventer | Mid-April to mid-May, before soil hits 55°F at 4 inches | NDSU |
| Lawn feedings | Around Memorial Day and Labor Day | NDSU |
| Last day for fall seeding | September 15 | NDSU |
| Fall weed control | Mid to late September into early October | NDSU |
| Sprinkler blowout | Late September to mid-October, before a hard freeze | Bismarck frost dates |
| City mowing deadlines | June 1, July 1, August 1, and September 1 if needed | City of Bismarck |
| Yard waste sites | Open April through October | City of Bismarck |
| Sidewalk snow | Clear within 24 hours after the snow stops | City Ordinance 10-03-04 |
| Elm pruning | November through March only | NDSU |
| Ash injections | Mid-May to mid-June | NDSU |
WINTER • SNOW • TREES
Winter: December, January and February
Bismarck averages about 50.5 inches of snow a year, according to NOAA’s 1991 to 2020 normals. December is usually the snowiest month at about 10.1 inches, and January lows average around 2°F.
December
- Clear sidewalks within 24 hours after the snow stops, including crosswalk areas on corner lots.
- Keep snow out of the street and off the boulevard. Fines can reach $1,000. See Bismarck snow rules for homeowners.
- Spread out big snow piles on the lawn instead of stacking every storm in one spot. Piles that melt last are where snow mold shows up worst.
- Pick the right ice melt. Rock salt works down to about 15°F. Calcium chloride works down to about -20°F.
- Check tree guards after big snows. Rabbits climb drifts and chew above short guards.
January
- Keep up with the sidewalk after every snowfall. The city can clear it and bill you if you don’t.
- Clear around fire hydrants near your property: about 6 inches below the caps and 3 to 4 feet around.
- Walk your ash trees while the leaves are off. Woodpecker damage, one sign of emerald ash borer, shows best in winter.
- Don’t feed deer. University of Minnesota Extension says a deer’s digestive system isn’t ready for high-energy food in winter, and feeding pulls more deer into your yard.
February
- Prune most trees in late winter while they’re dormant and you can see the branches. Elms must be pruned only from November through March.
- Plan spring projects now. Patios, sod, sprinklers and new plantings book up fast once the snow melts.
- Keep checking tree guards and drifts against young trees and shrubs.
SPRING • REPAIR • FIRST GROWTH
Spring: March, April and May
March
- Expect more snow. March averages about 8.5 inches, one of Bismarck’s snowier months.
- Finish elm pruning by March 31.
- Stay off soggy lawns. Walking on wet clay packs it down.
- Downtown winter parking rules end March 31.
April
- Start spring cleanup once the snow is gone and the lawn has dried, usually in April. April still averages about 4.6 inches of snow, so don’t rush.
- Rake matted snow mold patches and vole trails once the lawn is dry enough to walk on. See snow mold and vole damage.
- Flush salt along sidewalks and driveways with a thorough soaking once the ground thaws.
- Take plastic wraps off young trees. Hardware cloth can stay on if rabbits are a problem in summer too.
- Put down crabgrass preventer from mid-April to mid-May, but not on areas you plan to seed.
- Use the yard waste sites, which open in April. The City of Bismarck’s spring clean-up week also falls in April. In 2026 it ran April 20 to 23.
- Core aerate once the soil dries out. Spring is NDSU’s second-best time to aerate.
May
- Wait for the last frost, around May 12 to 14, before planting tender plants.
- Turn on sprinklers around mid-May, slowly, and check each zone for broken heads and leaks.
- Start sod and spring seeding after the last frost. See sod installation in Bismarck.
- Plant trees and shrubs. NDSU says spring is usually best for planting trees.
- Treat ash trees you’re keeping. NDSU puts homeowner soil drenches in early to mid-May and trunk injections from mid-May to mid-June. See should you treat or remove your ash tree.
- Make the first lawn feeding around Memorial Day, about 1 pound of nitrogen per 1,000 square feet. Earlier feeding pushes top growth at the cost of roots.
- Prune winter burn on evergreens only after new growth shows, often late May or June.
- Start mowing at about 3 inches once the grass is growing well.
For help planning the two key feedings, see lawn fertilizer timing.
SUMMER • MOWING • WATER
Summer: June, July and August
June
- Meet the city’s first mowing deadline on June 1. Grass and weeds over 8 inches break the rule.
- Water about 1 inch a week, counting rain. On clay, split each run into two shorter cycles.
- Finish ash injections by mid-June.
- Know that EAB adults fly from mid-June to mid-July in North Dakota.
July
- Meet the July 1 mowing deadline.
- Optional feeding around the Fourth of July. NDSU says skip it if the lawn is drought stressed.
- Let the lawn go dormant in a hot, dry spell if you’d rather not water. Straw-colored grass usually isn’t dead. Keep foot traffic off it.
- Raise the mower and never cut more than one-third of the blade at once.
- Watch the water bill. City demand climbs from about 200 million gallons a month to 600 million or more from May through September, mostly from lawn watering.
For easier summer upkeep, explore low-effort yard ideas.
August
- Meet the August 1 mowing deadline.
- Put up buck rub guards on young trees by mid-August if deer visit your yard.
- Start aerating and overseeding in late August. NDSU’s best seeding window is August 15 to September 15. See aeration and overseeding in Bismarck.
- Water new seed lightly and often until it comes up.
After severe summer storms, review hail recovery steps.
FALL • LAST LAWN JOBS • PROTECTION
Fall: September, October and November
September
- Make the most important lawn feeding around Labor Day, before September 15.
- Finish seeding by September 15.
- Mow by September 1 if the city’s last deadline applies.
- Spray dandelions, creeping Charlie and clover from mid to late September into early October. NDSU says to wait until after a frost, then spray during a few days above 60°F. See lawn fertilization and weed control.
- Watch for the first frost around September 20 to 25.
- Stop fertilizing at the end of September. NDSU says later feeding isn’t recommended.
October
- Blow out your sprinklers before the first hard freeze, usually late September through mid-October. See when to blow out your sprinklers in Bismarck.
- Water evergreens deeply until the ground freezes, by hose once the system is blown out. See evergreen winter burn.
- Put guards on young trees while you can still dig, burying the bottom of the mesh 2 to 3 inches.
- Clean up leaves and take them to the yard waste sites, which close after October. No bags allowed.
- Plant tulips 6 to 8 inches deep. NDSU says you can plant until the ground freezes, but earlier planting grows more roots.
- Keep mowing until the grass stops growing, then make a final mow at about 2 inches.
- Put in driveway stakes before the ground freezes.
November
- Mulch tulip beds after the ground freezes.
- Leave most perennials standing. An NDSU horticulturist leaves the stems up to trap insulating snow.
- Dormant seed bare spots once the soil drops below 40°F but before it freezes, if you missed the September window.
- Start elm pruning season from November through March.
- Remove ash trees in the dormant season. University of Minnesota Extension says November to April lowers the chance of spreading EAB when the wood is moved. Ash wood can’t leave Burleigh County without a permit.
- Downtown winter parking rules start November 1.
- Line up snow removal before the first big storm. See snow removal in Bismarck.
For local winter questions, see our snow and winter FAQ.
OCTOBER • YOUR PRIORITY CHECKLIST
What to Do Right Now: October in Bismarck
If you’re reading this in October, here’s the short list, in order:
- Blow out the sprinklers if you haven’t yet, before a hard freeze.
- Spray perennial weeds on any remaining days above 60°F.
- Water evergreens and young trees deeply until the ground freezes.
- Put guards on young trees while the ground can still be dug.
- Rake or mulch-mow leaves, and haul them to the yard waste sites before they close.
- Final mow at about 2 inches once the grass stops growing.
- Decide on your ash trees and get on a tree service’s list for spring treatment or a winter removal.
- Skip the fertilizer. The season for it is over.
Our fall yard checklist for Bismarck goes deeper on each of these.
BOOK EARLY • SHORT GROWING SEASON
When to Book Yard Work in Bismarck
With only about 129 days between frosts, May and June fill up fast. Book in late fall or winter for spring projects like sod, patios, sprinklers and new plantings. Sprinkler blowouts and snow removal should be booked before the first hard freeze and the first snow.
For what these jobs typically cost, see how much landscaping costs in Bismarck.
Questions
Bismarck Yard Calendar FAQ
Six answers about frost dates, lawn feeding, crabgrass, seeding, sprinklers, and tree pruning.
Questions about lawn care?
Browse more answers in the lawn care FAQ.
When does the growing season start and end in Bismarck?
Bismarck’s last spring frost usually comes around May 12 to 14, and the first fall frost around September 20 to 25. That leaves about 129 days between frosts. Lawn grass can keep growing for a while after the first frost, but NDSU notes it’s less likely to be actively growing once temperatures dip below 50°F.
When should I fertilize my lawn in Bismarck?
Around Memorial Day and around Labor Day, with an optional feeding around the Fourth of July. NDSU says the Labor Day feeding is the most important, and it should go down before September 15. Don’t fertilize after the end of September.
When should I put down crabgrass preventer in North Dakota?
About a week before the soil reaches 55°F at 4 inches deep, which NDSU says is usually mid-April to mid-May. Don’t use most preventers where you plan to seed, since they stop grass seed too.
When is the last day to seed grass in the fall?
NDSU says to sow seed by September 15 so it gets established before winter. After that, you can dormant seed once the soil drops below 40°F but before it freezes, or wait until spring.
When should I blow out my sprinklers in Bismarck?
Before the first hard freeze, which usually means late September through mid-October. The backflow preventer sits above ground and is usually the first part to crack.
When should I prune trees in Bismarck?
Late winter works for most trees, while they’re dormant and you can see the branches. Elms should be pruned only from November through March to lower the risk of Dutch elm disease. Broken or hanging limbs should come down right away, any time of year.
Bismarck Landscape
Want Us to Keep Your Yard on Schedule?
We plan our lawn, tree and snow work around this same calendar. If you’d rather not track the dates yourself, Bismarck Landscape can help.
You can also see our other contact options our lawn care FAQ or our FAQ.