By Justine Lofton, Tribune News Service
The Old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a drier-than-normal spring throughout Michigan with some areas being warm and others being cool.
The spring outlook is a long-range forecast that uses solar science, climatology and meteorology to give a broad picture of the season’s temperatures and rainfall. It can be useful to farmers, gardeners, landscapers, homeowners, travelers, event organizers, and many others as they plan their spring activities.
This April and May, much of the U.S., including all of Michigan, is expected to have drier-than-normal conditions.
Michigan is currently working its way out of a drought with a few big storm systems expected in February and March that will continue to help, said MLive meteorologist Mark Torregrossa.
“I’m feeling like our drought is getting much better,” he said. “Nothing points right now to very dry conditions.”
Still, the Old Farmer’s Almanac’s spring outlook takes a different view.
In most of the L.P. where warm conditions are predicted, spring may arrive earlier, according to the almanac. Gardeners should look for soil drying quickly, early growth and stress on plants during warm spells. Helpful strategies include watering deeply when needed, applying mulch to retain moisture and shading plants during early heat waves.
In the Upper Peninsula and the northern-most parts of the Lower Peninsula, this spring will be cooler and drier than normal, according to the almanac.
While this outlook doesn’t replace daily weather forecasts, seasonal trends can help gardeners as they think about what to plant, when to plant, and how much watering and moisture management they’ll need to do, according to the almanac.
Throughout Michigan, gardeners should watch out for dried out soil early in the season, the almanac says. The Old Farmer’s Almanac suggests using soaker hoses or drip lines to keep plants happy, adding mulch or compost to retain moisture and choosing drought-tolerant plants when possible.
In the U.P. and northern L.P., where the almanac predicts cool conditions, gardeners might see slower growth early in the season, later planting windows, and cold, damp soil. Raised beds and mounded rows can help, along with waiting for soil to warm before planting.
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