Lawn Care Guide for Wrangell City and Borough

Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska

Data Story

About Lawn Care in Wrangell City and Borough, Alaska

Easiest Lawn Care in the State

Wrangell boasts an impressive lawn difficulty score of 69.1, significantly outperforming the state average of 57.8. This high score indicates that natural conditions here are exceptionally well-suited for low-maintenance turf compared to the rest of Alaska.

Mild Temperatures and Long Growth

Wrangell benefits from a long frost-free period and 821 growing degree days, providing ample time for grass to establish. With zero extreme heat days and a July average of 58.0°F, heat stress is virtually non-existent for local lawns.

Soil Prep for Lush Growth

Data on soil texture and pH is unavailable, but the lush local vegetation suggests a productive foundation. Lawns in this region typically require good aeration to handle the maritime moisture levels common to the Southeast panhandle.

No Drought Hazards in Wrangell

Drought is not a concern here, as 0% of the area is classified as abnormally dry and no weeks of drought occurred last year. You can generally rely on natural rainfall to keep your lawn hydrated without the need for irrigation systems.

Early Starts Lead to Healthy Turf

Spring seeding can begin as early as April 11, giving your lawn a massive head start compared to neighboring regions. The long season lasting until November 1 allows for strong root development of cool-season grass varieties.

Lawn Difficulty Score

18/100
Easy
Rainfall40/100
Soil Quality0/100
Temperature0/100
Growing Season40/100
Drought0/100

Soil Summary

pH

N/A

Texture

N/A

Drainage

N/A

Organic Matter

N/A

View full soil details

Climate Snapshot

Annual Precip

N/A

Growing Degree Days

821.3

Base 50F

Last Spring Frost

04/11

First Fall Frost

11/01

Days Above 95F

0

Hardiness Zone

N/A

Seeding Calendar — Zone 7A

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Cool Seed (Best)
Cool Seed (OK)
Warm Seed (Best)
Warm Seed (OK)
Cool Seed (Best)
Cool Seed (OK)
Warm Seed (Best)
Warm Seed (OK)
Optimal (cool)
Acceptable (cool)
Optimal (warm)
Acceptable (warm)

Seasonal Lawn Care Checklist

Spring

  • Apply pre-emergent herbicide when soil reaches 55F
  • Begin mowing when grass reaches 3 inches
  • Start irrigation if rainfall is below 1 inch/week
  • Soil test every 2-3 years — adjust lime or sulfur as needed

Summer

  • Mow at recommended height weekly
  • Water deeply 1-2 times per week (1 inch total)
  • Avoid fertilizing cool-season grasses in peak heat
  • Scout for grubs and treat if >10 per sq ft

Fall

  • Overseed warm-season lawns if thinning
  • Apply fall fertilizer (highest N application for cool-season)
  • Continue mowing until growth stops
  • Rake or mulch leaves to prevent smothering

Winter

  • Apply pre-emergent for winter weeds
  • Service mower and sharpen blades
  • Plan spring soil amendments based on fall test
  • Keep lawn clear of debris

Watering Deficit Calculator

50020,000 sq ft

Monthly Deficit

0.9"

inches of water

Monthly Water

2,674

gallons

Estimated Monthly Cost

$21.39

at $0.008/gallon average

Estimates based on 30" annual precipitation and estimated evapotranspiration. Actual costs vary by local water rates.

Want detailed soil composition, drainage classes, and soil series data? View soil details on SoilByCounty.com

Data sourced from USDA SSURGO, NOAA Climate Normals (1991-2020), USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, and US Drought Monitor. Lawn difficulty scores and grass recommendations are estimates for informational purposes only.