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

Planting zone for 49453 — Saugatuck, MI

ZIP code 49453 (Saugatuck, Allegan County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is April 28 and the first fall frost October 21.

Where ZIP 49453 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostApr 28
First frostOct 21
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Saugatuck, 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 Saugatuck, MI

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 16only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 21median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season175 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 16 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Holland Tulip City Airport, MI — 7 miles away, elevation 689 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 49453

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 12 – May 26
BeansSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 26 – Sep 9
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 7 – Nov 11
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 21) 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 49453 came on Apr 2 — 8 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 6b in Michigan

582 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Michigan, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. 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 221

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 175

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 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked sedge4 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °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 Saugatuck, MI.

Soil in Saugatuck, MI

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 49453 is Thetford — loamy fine sand, somewhat poorly drained.

TextureLoamy fine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classFarmland of local importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Thetford loamy fine sand, 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 49453; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saugatuck, MI

Summer high82 °Faverage high, July
Winter low20 °Faverage low, January
Hot days8days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights123nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,751base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 19 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 02 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation34.8 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 32 °F, low 20 °F 32°20° JanFebruary: average high 34 °F, low 21 °F 34°21° FebMarch: average high 44 °F, low 28 °F 44°28° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 37 °F 57°37° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 48 °F 69°48° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 58 °F 78°58° JunJuly: average high 82 °F, low 62 °F 82°62° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° SepOctober: average high 61 °F, low 43 °F 61°43° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 34 °F 48°34° NovDecember: average high 37 °F, low 26 °F 37°26° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 JanFebruary: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 FebMarch: 2.07 in precipitation 2.1 MarApril: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 AprMay: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.45 in precipitation 3.5 JunJuly: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 JulAugust: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 2.95 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 3.20 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 2.11 in precipitation 2.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Holland Tulip City Airport, MI (7 mi away); precipitation: Holland Tulip City Airport, MI (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

494066b
Douglas, MI · 2 mi
494086b
Fennville, MI · 7 mi
494236b
Holland, MI · 7 mi
494347a
Macatawa, MI · 8 mi
494226b
Holland, MI · 9 mi
494166b
Glenn, MI · 10 mi
494196a
Hamilton, MI · 10 mi
494246b
Holland, MI · 12 mi

Michigan planting zones →

Questions about 49453

What planting zone is ZIP code 49453?

ZIP code 49453 (Saugatuck, MI) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Saugatuck, MI?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 49453 is April 28; after May 16 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Holland Tulip City Airport station.

When is the first frost in Saugatuck, MI?

The median first fall frost near 49453 is October 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 175 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 49453?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 3 – Mar 17 and set transplants outside around May 5 – May 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 49453 get?

About 34.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Holland Tulip City Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Saugatuck, MI?

The average high peaks at 82 °F in July, with about 8 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 49453 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Thetford at the center of ZIP 49453: loamy fine sand, somewhat poorly drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Saugatuck, MI in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 49453 came on Apr 2 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 10), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saugatuck, MI?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 49453 is 15 h 19 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).