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When to plant crocuses in Ann Arbor: 6 October – 30 November

In Ann Arbor, crocus: plant from 6 October to about 30 November. For planting stock, the places nearby include Downtown Home and Garden (garden centre, 0 km) and Turner's Nursery & Landscaping (garden centre, 7 km); addresses and opening hours are below.

Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

The date is about two weeks before the average daily temperature here falls below 0 °C (ten years of weather): an estimate, not the day the ground freezes, and a cold spell can freeze it earlier. Sources: Iowa State University Extension, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, UNH Extension, RHS, how the ground freezes (NRC Canada, CBD-26).

Crocus in Ann Arbor: soil, season and weather

Nights then average below 0 °C in December–March; the coldest, January, averages -6.8 °C.

Planting6 October – 30 November
First autumn frost5 November
Coldest nightsJanuary, -6.8 °C
Soil back at 1 °C in spring9 February
Daylight11:33 on 6 October
Daylight at the winter solstice9:05

The same dates in Ann Arbor hold for Garlic, Tulip, Daffodil and Hyacinth.

Crocus in Ann Arbor: depth, winter cold, pests and pets

Plant Dutch crocuses (Crocus vernus) about 12 cm deep and 9 cm apart; smaller species go 7–10 cm deep (RHS).

In Ann Arbor the average daily temperature stays at 10 °C or lower for about 26 weeks a year (our estimate from ten years of monthly weather). For this bulb Wisconsin Horticulture Extension gives a cold period of 15–17 weeks at about 2–10 °C. The winter here gives that in the ground, so the bulbs need no pre-chilling.

Crocuses multiply on their own (they naturalise); in a lawn, hold off mowing until their leaves die back (RHS).

Birds, squirrels and rodents damage crocuses; planting under metal mesh may reduce losses (RHS). Spring crocus gives dogs and cats vomiting and diarrhoea; do not confuse it with autumn crocus (Colchicum), which is very toxic (Pet Poison Helpline).

Sources: RHS, Wisconsin Horticulture Extension, Pet Poison Helpline.

Crocus in nearby cities

Around Ann Arbor, Lansing is 3 days earlier and Cleveland 16 days later.

CityDistanceDateDifference
Detroit58 km8 October – 7 December2 days later
Lansing82 km3 October – 29 November3 days earlier
Grand Rapids174 km4 October – 29 November2 days earlier
Fort Wayne176 km3 October – 10 December3 days earlier
Cleveland191 km22 October – 23 December16 days later
Columbus266 km3 October – 25 December3 days earlier

Where to buy crocus for planting in Ann Arbor

Planting stock goes into the ground from 6 October to about 30 November; buy it before that. Within 15 km of Ann Arbor OpenStreetMap lists 4 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 2 plant nurseries, 10 markets and 5 farm shops (collected 28 October 2026).

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

Questions

When to plant crocuses in Ann Arbor?

In Ann Arbor, crocus: plant from 6 October to about 30 November. Bulbs are best planted early in the window: late-planted bulbs may flower later or less well. Late planting works only while the soil can be dug. Mulch after planting.

When is the last spring frost in Ann Arbor?

Last spring frost around 28 April, first autumn frost around 5 November.

Other crops in Ann Arbor, with their dates