Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Grayling, MI

Grayling, MI is in USDA zone 5a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 23 and the first fall frost September 27.

Grayling on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone5a−20 to −15 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 23
First frostSep 27
Growing season124 days

5a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Grayling, MI…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Grayling, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 23median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 27median — 10% chance by Sep 11
Growing season124 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 10 and returns around October 9.

From the NOAA station Grayling, MI, elevation 1,139 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Grayling

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 11 – Apr 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 11 – May 2
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 2 – May 16
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 2 – May 16
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 2 – May 16
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
TomatoesTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 6 – Jun 20
BeansSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 30 – Jun 13
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 2 – Aug 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 13 – Oct 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 23) and first fall frost (Sep 27) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 49738 came on Apr 18 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 23).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 5a in Michigan

551 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 5a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 54

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 103

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican black currant3 ft · blooms early spring · to −46 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 207

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine sweetvetch2 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −62 °FAmerican bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Grasses 166

alpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican beachgrass2.5 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Farctic brome3 ft · blooms early summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °F

Vines 7

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Friverbank grape45 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °Fsummer grape30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °Ftrumpet honeysuckle16 ft · blooms late summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Grayling, MI.

Soil in Grayling, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49738 is Graycalm — sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.1strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5.69%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Graycalm sand, 0 to 6 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 49738; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Grayling, MI

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low9 °Faverage low, February
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights185nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,013base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day8 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation33.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall88 inper year; 116 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

0°10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 26 °F, low 10 °F 26°10° JanFebruary: average high 29 °F, low 9 °F 29°9° FebMarch: average high 39 °F, low 16 °F 39°16° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 29 °F 53°29° AprMay: average high 67 °F, low 41 °F 67°41° MayJune: average high 77 °F, low 51 °F 77°51° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 53 °F 79°53° AugSeptember: average high 71 °F, low 45 °F 71°45° SepOctober: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° OctNovember: average high 43 °F, low 26 °F 43°26° NovDecember: average high 32 °F, low 18 °F 32°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.82 in precipitation, 25.8 in snowfall 1.8❄26 JanFebruary: 1.39 in precipitation, 18.9 in snowfall 1.4❄19 FebMarch: 1.68 in precipitation, 10.8 in snowfall 1.7❄11 MarApril: 3.39 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 3.4❄4 AprMay: 3.23 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.2 MayJune: 3.64 in precipitation 3.6 JunJuly: 3.07 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.26 in precipitation 3.3 AugSeptember: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 SepOctober: 4.01 in precipitation, 1.4 in snowfall 4.0❄1 OctNovember: 2.58 in precipitation, 6.9 in snowfall 2.6❄7 NovDecember: 1.95 in precipitation, 20.2 in snowfall 1.9❄20 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Grayling, MI (6 mi away); precipitation: Grayling, MI (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Grayling

497385a
−20 to −15 °F
497395a
−20 to −15 °F

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about Grayling

What planting zone is Grayling, MI?

Grayling, MI is in USDA hardiness zone 5a on the 2023 map (5a: −20 to −15 °F).

When is the last frost in Grayling, MI?

The median last spring frost is May 23 and the median first fall frost is September 27 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Grayling station).

When can I plant a garden in Grayling, MI?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 11 – May 2; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 30, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Grayling, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 35 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

How much rain and snow does Grayling, MI get?

About 33.2 inches of precipitation a year and 88 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).