They are also found scattered widely in mountain humus. They never grow in bog, because water seals out oxygen. The habitat is usually tall trees in undisturbed environments, though morels are sometimes found in brush. In clean sand, they tend to wander some distance from trees. They sometimes come up in tall grass.
Timing is criticial in finding morels.
They come up about six weeks after the ground thaws. It might be eight weeks, if dry weather slows down their growth. This means early April in Missouri, late April in Iowa and middle of May in northern Michigan. Experienced morel stalkers check an environment several times starting early and after every rain. Morels usually come up after a rain.