Soilclock

Michigan 58°F soil temperature

Updated Nov 4, 2026, 7:41 AM EST

The middle reading of 7 Michigan cities, 2 inches down, on Nov 3. Pick a city for its forecast and lawn calendar.

Michigan cities today

Estimated daily average soil temperature at 2 inches, the difference from normal for the date, and the change over the last week. Michigan spans cool-season grass country.

City2 in4 invs normal7 daysCrabgrass windowFall seeding ends
Detroit 59°60° +12°+4° Apr 12 – Apr 26 Oct 23
Grand Rapids 58°59° +13°+4° Apr 17 – Apr 30 Oct 18
Ann Arbor 56°57° +13°−4° Apr 19 – May 5 Oct 17
Lansing 59°59° +13°+5° Apr 20 – May 3 Oct 18
Flint 57°57° +12°+6° Apr 15 – May 4 Oct 18
Kalamazoo 59°59° +12°+4° Apr 12 – Apr 23 Oct 18
Pontiac 57°57° +12°+4° Apr 20 – May 3 Oct 18

When to apply pre-emergent in Michigan

Crabgrass pre-emergent goes down when 2-inch soil holds about 50°F. Across Michigan that has typically happened first in Detroit, around Apr 12, and last in Pontiac, around Apr 20. The window closes when soil holds 55°F and crabgrass starts sprouting.

Close view of a Kentucky bluegrass lawn
Kentucky bluegrass, the most common cool-season lawn grass in the northern US.

Last good week to seed in Michigan

Tall fescue and bluegrass seed sprouts best while 4-inch soil is between 55 and 70°F. The typical last day above 55°F:

What grows in Michigan lawns

Crabgrass is the weed spring pre-emergents are timed for. Lawns here are mostly cool-season grasses such as bluegrass and fescue.

Large crabgrass with its spreading finger-like seed heads
Large crabgrass in seed. Each plant can drop thousands of seeds that wait for warm spring soil.
Close view of a Kentucky bluegrass lawn
Kentucky bluegrass, the most common cool-season lawn grass in the northern US.
A low mat of bermudagrass with fine blades and seed heads
Bermudagrass, the warm-season grass behind most lawns from the Carolinas to Texas.

Other states