Growing Hydrangeas in Michigan: Types, Colour and Winter
Set hydrangeas out in Michigan after the last spring frost, which falls around April 30 in the Detroit area and early to mid May across most of the Lower…
Michigan
Home and garden guidance specific to Michigan: climate, seasons, local rules and rebates.
Gardening in Michigan
Everything we have worked out for Michigan: what to plant and when, which varieties finish in time, the pests that actually turn up here, and the jobs that pay off month by month. We also cover the rest of the property, from lawns and soil to home care and energy, because a garden rarely stops at the vegetable bed.
The numbers first, because everything else follows from them. Measured at the weather station in Detroit, the last spring freeze runs April 30 in the Detroit area; early to mid May across most of the Lower Peninsula and the first fall freeze runs October 6 to October 21, USDA zones 4a-6b, 3,248 growing degree days in the year.
Garlic does well: 26.1 weeks below 40 °F, comfortably past the six it needs to form a proper head.
Elsewhere on the property in Michigan: the pests that turn up here.
Figures from NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals. A state is not one climate: elevation, a large lake or the coast can move these dates by two weeks either way, so check your own county with the extension service before you spend money.
When Sweet Corn Is Ready in Michigan, and How Fast It Fades
Michigan sweet corn is ready 60 to 90 days after planting, and planting waits for soil that has reached 60 F, which arrives after the last spring frost…
Heat Pump or Gas Furnace in Michigan: Which Costs Less to Run?
Natural gas costs less to run in Michigan. A heat pump costs more per unit of heat, but it is the only one of the two that also cools the house, and that…
What Eats Asparagus in Michigan, and When
The sources behind this page publish no pest calendar for asparagus, so none appears here.
What Eats Beet in Michigan, and When
Most of what eats a beet crop in Michigan is not an insect. It is thirst in the first six weeks, which sends the plant to flower, and heat above 85 F…
When to Aerate a Lawn in Michigan
Aerate a Michigan lawn in fall, while the grass is still actively growing and ahead of the first frost.
When to Dig Up Dahlias, Cannas and Gladiolus in Michigan
In Michigan, dahlias, cannas and gladiolus have to come out of the ground for winter. The trigger is the first frost that blackens the leaves.
How Late Can You Plant Trees and Shrubs in Fall in Michigan?
In Michigan, the safe window to plant trees and shrubs in fall closes between August 25 and September 9, which is six weeks before the first fall frost…
When to Mulch Strawberries and Perennials for Winter in Michigan
Wait for the ground to start freezing, then mulch. For Michigan strawberries and borderline perennials, that means late fall, well after the first frost…
When to Winterize Sprinklers and Outdoor Faucets in Michigan
Michigan winters leave no room for skipping this chore. Sprinkler lines, valves and outdoor taps all need to be emptied before fall’s first hard freeze…