The frost free period ranges from about 70 to 135 days. The moderately well drained Manitowish soils and the somewhat poorly drained Wormet soils form a drainage sequence with Pence soils. The well drained Padus soils, the moderately well drained Tipler soils, and the somewhat poorly drained Worcester soils form a drainage sequence in nearby areas where the loamy mantle is 20 to 40 inches thick. The excessively drained Sayner and Vilas soils are on landscape positions similar to those of Pence soils where the loamy mantle is absent. Surface runoff is slow to rapid.
Most areas remain in woodland.
Forest vegetation is mixed coniferous and deciduous forest. Timber stands are mostly sugar maple, paper birch, red maple, American basswood, northern red oak, white ash, eastern hemlock, and eastern white pine. Red pine, aspen, balsam, and yellow birch are also in some stands. Some areas are used for cropland or pastureland. Common crops are corn, small grains, and hay.