March Homesteading Chores by USDA Zone

March Homesteading Chores By USDA Zone


March Homesteading Chores

These March homesteading chores are intended as a general guideline. Most homesteaders will need to adjust their activities according to their local climate and conditions. For information tailored to your area, consult your local extension office.

Find Your Zone… Click on the link to see your average first and last frost dates.

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USDA Zone 1

Average low temperatures:

  • -60 to -55F in zone 1a
  • -55 to -50F in zone 1b

March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Keep livestock well fed and protected from wind and cold
  • Check for signs of hypothermia and frostbite on livestock
  • Water should be kept ice free with proper heaters
  • Make sure barn is ventilated (but draft free) to prevent disease
  • Give poultry corn or sunflower seed for extra calories
  • Order hatchery catalogs
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of artificial light a day in their coop
  • Gather eggs often to prevent freezing
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Check fence lines for needed repairs and signs of predators

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.


March Homesteading Chores – Garden Chores

  • Order herb, vegetable, and flower seeds
  • Plan garden beds (be sure to rotate crops)
  • Clean and oil tools if you didn’t do so in autumn
  • Clean and sharpen pruning tools
  • Check trees and shrubs for winter damage
  • Grow herbs and houseplants under lights indoors
  • Check houseplants for scale and mites, treat if necessary
  • Houseplants do not need fertilizer until daylight hours increase
ice on fence

USDA Zone 2

Average Low Temperatures:

  • -50 to -45F in zone 2a
  • -45 to -30F in zone 2b

March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Keep livestock well fed and protected from wind and cold
  • Check for signs of hypothermia and frostbite on livestock
  • Water should be kept ice free with proper heaters
  • Make sure barn is ventilated (but draft free) to prevent disease
  • Give poultry corn or sunflower seed for extra calories
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of artificial light a day in their coop
  • Gather eggs often to prevent freezing
  • Order hatchery catalogs, check hatching and brooder supplies
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Check fence lines for needed repairs and signs of predators
  • Check sugaring equipment for needed repairs, stock up on firewood for boiling birch sap

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

March Homesteading Chores – Garden Chores

  • Order herb, vegetable, and flower seeds
  • Order hardy bare root trees and shrubs
  • Start cool-season crops under lights indoors
  • Plan garden beds (be sure to rotate crops)
  • Set up cold frames
  • Check fruit-bearing trees and shrubs for damage from wildlife
  • Clean and oil tools if you didn’t do so in autumn
  • Clean and sharpen pruning tools
  • Grow herbs and houseplants under lights indoors
  • Check houseplants for scale and mites, treat if necessary
  • Houseplants may need some fertilizer
Black Capped Chickadee at the birdfeeder

USDA Zone 3

Average Low Temperatures:

  • -40 to -35F in zone 3a
  • -35 to -30F in zone 3b

March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Keep livestock well fed and protected from wind and cold
  • Check for signs of hypothermia and frostbite on livestock
  • Water should be kept ice-free with proper heaters
  • Make sure barn is ventilated (but draft free) to prevent disease
  • Give poultry corn or sunflower seed in the evening to keep them warm
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Gather eggs often in freezing weather
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Order hatchery catalogs and check incubator and brooding supplies
  • Check fence lines for needed repairs and signs of predators
  • Check sugaring equipment for needed repairs, stock up on firewood for boiling sap from birch and maple

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

March Homesteading Chores – Garden Chores

  • Order vegetable, fruit, and flower seeds if you haven’t already done so
  • Plan garden beds (be sure to rotate crops)
  • Clean up seed starting area and list supplies needed
  • Start cool-season crops under lights indoors
  • Plant slow growing perennials under lights indoors
  • Plant slow growing cool-season annuals under lights indoors
  • Check fruit-bearing trees and shrubs for damage from wildlife
  • Prune fruit trees
  • Clean and oil tools if you didn’t do so in autumn
  • Grow herbs and houseplants under lights indoors
  • Check houseplants for scale and mites, treat if necessary
  • Houseplants may need fertilizer
Fresh eggs

USDA Zone 4

Average Low Temperatures:
  • -30 to -25F in zone 4a
  • -25 to -20F in zone 4b

March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Keep livestock well fed and protected from wind and cold
  • Check for signs of frostbite on chicken combs, wattles, and feet
  • Water should be kept ice free with proper heaters
  • Make sure barn is ventilated (but draft free) to prevent disease
  • Give poultry corn or sunflower seed in evening to keep them warm
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Gather eggs often in freezing weather
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Check fence lines for needed repairs and signs of predators
  • Check sugaring equipment for needed repairs, stock up on firewood for boiling sap
  • Collect and boil sap when weather warms and sap runs

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

March Homesteading Chores – Garden Chores

  • Direct seed cool season crops in cold frames if weather allows
  • Plant cool season crops indoors under lights
  • Plant warm season herbs, vegetables, and flowers indoors under lights
  • Plan garden beds (be sure to rotate crops)
  • Order fruit trees, shrubs, perennials, and annual plants if you haven’t already done so
  • Plant bare root trees, shrubs, and perennials if weather allows
  • Check fruit bearing trees and shrubs for damage from wildlife
  • Clean and sharpen pruning tools
  • Prune fruit trees
  • Prune winter damage from trees and shrubs
  • Clean and oil tools if you didn’t do so in autumn
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows or under lights
  • Check houseplants for scale and mites, treat if necessary
window

USDA Zone 5

Average Low Temperatures:
  • -20 to -15F in zone 5a
  • -15 to -10F in zone 5b

March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Protect livestock from wind and cold
  • Make sure barn is ventilated (but draft free) to prevent disease
  • Give poultry corn or sunflower seed in cold weather to keep them warm
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Gather eggs often in freezing weather
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Order day old poultry in advance for best selection
  • Check hatching and brooding supplies and order necessary equipment
  • Check fence lines for needed repairs and signs of predators
  • Check sugaring equipment for needed repairs, stock up on firewood for boiling sap
  • Collect and boil sap when the
  • weather warms and sap runs

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

March Homesteading Chores – Garden Chores

  • Start slow growing warm season herbs, vegetables and flowers under lights indoors
  • Plant seeds of cool season crops in cold frames if weather allows
  • Work soil in garden if weather allows and soil is well drained
  • Plant perennial seeds indoors
  • Plan garden beds (be sure to rotate crops)
  • Plant dormant fruit trees and shrubs
  • Check fruit bearing trees and shrubs for damage from wildlife
  • Clean and sharpen pruning tools
  • Prune fruit trees
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows or under lights
  • Check houseplants for scale and mites, treat if necessary

USDA Zone 6

Average Low Temperatures:
  • -10 to -5F in zone 6a
  • -55 to 0F in zone 6b

March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Protect livestock from inclement weather
  • Make sure barn is ventilated (but draft free) to prevent disease
  • Give poultry corn or sunflower seed in cold weather to keep them warm
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Gather eggs often in freezing weather
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Place orders for day old poultry
  • Clean and organize hatching supplies and brooders
  • Prepare for livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Check fence lines for needed repairs and signs of predators
  • Clean sugaring equipment, stock up on firewood for boiling sap
  • Collect and boil sap on warm days

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

March Homesteading Chores – Garden Chores

  • Start warm season herbs, vegetables, and flowers under lights indoors
  • Plant perennial seeds indoors
  • Direct seed cool season vegetables in cold frames
  • Plan garden beds (be sure to rotate crops)
  • Plant dormant fruit trees, shrubs, and perennials
  • Finish pruning fruit trees and shrubs
  • Prune winter damage from trees and shrubs
  • Clean and sharpen gardening tools
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows
  • Increase fertilizer for houseplants slightly
March Hometeading Chores - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 7

Average Low Temperatures:
  • 0 to 5F in zone 7a
  • 5 to 10F in zone 7b

March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Make sure barn is ventilated (but draft free) to prevent disease
  • Give poultry corn or sunflower seed in cold weather to keep them warm
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Gather eggs often in freezing temperatures
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Place orders for day old poultry
  • Clean and organize hatching supplies and brooders
  • Prepare for livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Check fences for needed repairs and signs of predators
  • Prepare equipment for planting spring crops

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

 March Homesteading Chores – Garden Chores

  • Harvest cool season crops from cold frames
  • Direct seed cool season crops in beds
  • Finish planting seeds of warm season herbs, vegetables and flowers under lights indoors
  • Prepare garden beds
  • Plant dormant and container fruit trees, shrubs, and perennials
  • Plant evergreens and frost tolerant trees
  • Apply dormant oil spray to fruit trees before buds swell
  • Spray fruit trees for canker
  • Clean and sharpen gardening tools
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows and move outside on warm days
  • Increase fertilizer for houseplants
March Homesteading Chores - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 8

Average Low Temperatures:
  • 10 to 15F in zone 8a
  • 15 to 20F in zone 8b

March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Pasture livestock in good weather
  • Make sure barn is ventilated (but draft free) to prevent disease
  • Poultry should lay eggs with 14 hours of artificial light a day in their coop
  • Gather eggs often during cold weather
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Place orders for day old poultry
  • Clean and organize hatching supplies and brooders
  • Hatch fertile poultry eggs in incubator
  • Prepare for, and assist in, livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Repair fencing and check for signs of predators
  • Prepare for planting spring crops

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

March Homesteading Chores – Garden Chores

  • Prepare garden beds
  • Harvest cool-season crops from cold frames
  • Direct seed cool-season vegetables in beds
  • Transplant vegetable seeds and transplants in beds, protect if frost threatens
  • Plant container fruit trees, shrubs, hardy perennials, and bare root roses
  • Plant evergreens
  • Spray for peach leaf curl, leaf blight, and canker
  • Clean and sharpen gardening tools
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows & move outdoors in nice weather
  • Increase fertilizer for houseplants

USDA Zone 9

Average Low Temperatures:
  • 20 to 25F in zone 9a
  • 25 to 30F in zone 9b

  March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Pasture livestock, protect from inclement weather
  • Make sure barn is ventilated to prevent disease
  • Poultry should lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Place orders for day old poultry
  • Clean and prepare brooders for day old poultry, order supplies
  • Hatch fertile poultry eggs in incubator
  • Prepare for, and assist in, livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Repair fencing and check for signs of predators

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

   March Homesteading Chores – Garden Chores

  • Harvest cool season crops
  • Direct seed warm season herbs, vegetables, and flowers
  • Set out warm season herbs, vegetables, and flowers
  • Plant container fruit trees, shrubs, perennials, summer flowering bulbs, and annuals
  • Prune fruit trees after flowering and fruit set
  • Spray for peach leaf curl, leaf blight, and cancker
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows, move outdoors in nice weather
  • Increase fertilizer for houseplants
  • Protect tender plants if frost threatens
March Homesteading Chores - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 10

Average Low Temperatures:
  • 30 to 35F in zone 10a
  • 35 to 40F in zone 10b

  March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Pasture livestock
  • Make sure barn is ventilated (but draft free) to prevent disease
  • Poultry should lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Order day old poultry
  • Prepare brooders for day old poultry orders
  • Hatch fertile poultry eggs in incubators
  • Prepare for, and assist in, livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Repair fencing and check for signs of predators

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

March Homesteading Chores –  Garden Chores

  • Harvest cool season crops
  • Direct seed vegetables in garden beds
  • Plant heat loving plants in cold frames
  • Protect citrus trees from frost
  • Plant citrus trees, fruit trees, shrubs, hardy perennials, and frost tolerant annuals
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows or on patios
  • Increase fertilizer for houseplants
March Homesteading Chores - The New Homesteaders Almanac

USDA Zone 11

Average Low Temperatures:
  • 40 to 45F for zone 11a
  • 45 to 50F for zone 11b

  March Homesteading Chores – Farm Chores

  • Pasture livestock
  • Poultry should lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Keep bedding clean and dry to prevent disease
  • Place orders for day old poultry
  • Prepare brooders for day old poultry orders
  • Hatch fertile poultry eggs in incubators
  • Prepare for, and assist in, livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Repair fencing and check for signs of predators

 March Homesteading Chores – Garden Chores

  • Harvest cool season crops
  • Transplant herbs, vegetables and flowers in garden beds
  • Plant mangoes, avocados, papayas
  • Fertilize, weed and mulch beds
  • Fertilize citrus trees
  • Irrigate in drought prone areas
  • Grow herbs and houseplants on patios
  • Check for pests and hand pick or spray as needed
  • Fertilize houseplants
  • Harvest citrus fruits and preserve for off season

Notes: Within each USDA Zone, there are many different micro-climates and variations in frost-free dates, average low temperatures, and average high temperatures. Visit the Interactive USDA Zone Map for the most accurate information about your local conditions.

The information listed here is intended to give a general guideline to appropriate homesteading activities for your area. Each individual using these guidelines must determine if the information is accurate for their conditions.

As an Amazon affiliate, I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.

March Homesteading Chores by USDA zone - your list of chores to complete on your homestead during the month of March.

About Lisa Lombardo

Lisa Lombardo is the author of The Beginner's Guide to Backyard Homesteading and Organic Gardening for Beginners, and also shares her homesteading adventures on The Self Sufficient HomeAcre. She earned an Associate of Science in horticulture and a Bachelor of Fine Arts and enjoys sharing her love of gardening and homesteading with her readers. The author lives in Northern Illinois on a 1-acre homestead with her family, pets, and an assortment of poultry.

16 comments on “March Homesteading Chores by USDA Zone

  1. Lisa Lombardo Post author

    Thank you, Joy! There is a huge difference, isn’t there?! You can see big differences even in the same zone! Thanks for checking the post and sharing. πŸ™‚ I appreciate it!

  2. Joy

    What an informative post! I am in 6b and it is accurate for me, here! I am always amazed at the difference a few hours drive can make in gardening schedules! My Dad just lives a couple of hundred miles N of me and he is always flabberghasted when I start planting my greens and radishes!

  3. Dianne

    Hi Lisa,
    Perfect for zone 7. This time of year our weather is definitely a teaser. Today’s high is 66 F as our low is to be 28F. We have huge swings in temps this time of year.

    Thanks for sharing this great info.

  4. Lisa Lombardo Post author

    Hi Brenda,
    It can be tough to pinpoint, right?! Thanks for checking this and sharing your thoughts! I hope this year is closer to zone 4 for you. πŸ™‚

  5. Brenda

    I’m in Idaho still under more than 2 feet of snow. They say we are a zone 4 but our weather acts more like a zone 3. We are in the mountains so we are never really sure which one to follow because it can vary year to year. Loved the information. I will follow it and see what we turn out to be this year. Thank you!! πŸ™‚

  6. Nancy W

    Love this chart. The difference from where we used to live (Zone 4b) to where we live now (8b) is quite a change!

  7. Leslie

    Thank you for the list (5b). It’s a great check to help jog my memory and make sure we are on track for our garden!

  8. Lisa Lombardo Post author

    Happy to share, WT! Glad to know it is helpful. πŸ™‚

    I had trouble finding something like this and decided to create my own!

    Happy homesteading!

  9. WT Abernathy

    Thanks for this great resource!
    Our off the grid homestead is up in NH, zones 5a/5b, and it’s nice to see a ready-made list (with a few adjustments) that I won’t have to jot down myself and risk forgetting a thing or two-
    Cheers for the share, I found you on the blog hop:)

Comments are closed.