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

Planting zone for 48130 — Dexter, MI

ZIP code 48130 (Dexter, Washtenaw County) is in USDA zone 6a: the coldest winter night averages −10 to −5 °F. The median last spring frost is April 30 and the first fall frost October 12.

Where ZIP 48130 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone6a−10 to −5 °F
Coldest night−23.3 to −20.6 °C
Last frostApr 30
First frostOct 12
2012 zone6a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 6a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Dexter, 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 Dexter, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 12median — 10% chance by Sep 28
Growing season163 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 20 and returns around October 26.

From the NOAA station Chelsea, MI — 6 miles away, elevation 899 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 48130

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
TomatoesTransplant · May 7 – May 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 14 – May 28
BeansSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 7 – May 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 17 – Aug 31
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 28 – Nov 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 30) and first fall frost (Oct 12) 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 48130 came on Mar 30 — 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10).

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 6a in Michigan

580 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 58

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 105

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 220

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 174

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 8

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 creeper2 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °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 Dexter, MI.

Soil in Dexter, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 48130 is Wasepi — sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Wasepi sandy loam, 0 to 4 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 48130; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Dexter, MI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low16 °Faverage low, January
Hot days11days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights141nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,705base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 17 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation35.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 31 °F, low 16 °F 31°16° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 17 °F 34°17° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 37 °F 58°37° AprMay: average high 70 °F, low 48 °F 70°48° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 57 °F 79°57° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 61 °F 82°61° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 59 °F 80°59° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° OctNovember: average high 47 °F, low 31 °F 47°31° NovDecember: average high 36 °F, low 23 °F 36°23° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 2.42 in precipitation 2.4 JanFebruary: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 FebMarch: 2.36 in precipitation 2.4 MarApril: 3.27 in precipitation 3.3 AprMay: 3.85 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.03 in precipitation 4.0 JunJuly: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 JulAugust: 3.48 in precipitation 3.5 AugSeptember: 2.77 in precipitation 2.8 SepOctober: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 OctNovember: 2.73 in precipitation 2.7 NovDecember: 2.17 in precipitation 2.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Chelsea, MI (6 mi away); precipitation: Dexter 2.2 Se, MI (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6a.

481696a
Pinckney, MI · 7 mi
481436a
Lakeland, MI · 7 mi
481896a
Whitmore Lake, MI · 7 mi
481186a
Chelsea, MI · 7 mi
481036a
Ann Arbor, MI · 8 mi
481396a
Hamburg, MI · 8 mi
481066a
Ann Arbor, MI · 8 mi
481076a
Ann Arbor, MI · 8 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 48130

What planting zone is ZIP code 48130?

ZIP code 48130 (Dexter, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 6a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −10 to −5 °F (−23.3 to −20.6 °C).

When is the last frost in Dexter, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 48130 is April 30; after May 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chelsea station.

When is the first frost in Dexter, MI?

The median first fall frost near 48130 is October 12, giving a median frost-free growing season of 163 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 48130?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 5 – Mar 19 and set transplants outside around May 7 – May 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 48130 get?

About 35.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dexter 2.2 Se station).

How hot do summers get in Dexter, MI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 11 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 48130 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Wasepi at the center of ZIP 48130: sandy loam, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Dexter, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 48130 came on Mar 30 in 2026, 11 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Dexter, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 48130 is 15 h 17 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).