April Homesteading Chores by USDA Zone

April Homesteading Chores By USDA Zone

April Homesteading Chores

April Homesteading Chores by USDA Zone These 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

April Homesteading – 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.


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Order herb, vegetable, and flower seeds if you haven’t already
  • Start seeds indoors for slow growing annuals
  • Plan garden beds (be sure to rotate crops)
  • Clean and oil tools if you didn’t do so in autumn
  • Prune trees and shrubs
  • Check trees and shrubs for winter damage
  • Grow herbs and houseplants under lights indoors
  • Check houseplants for scale and mites, treat if necessary
  • Houseplants may be given light applications of fertilizer
Fence in snow - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 2

Average Low Temperatures:

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


April Homesteading – Farm Chores

  • Keep livestock well fed and protected from wind and cold
  • Cold hardy livestock may be allowed more time outside in good weather
  • 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
  • Plan hatchery orders for May – June,  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
  • Check for sap running in birch trees, begin collecting sap and making syrup when weather conditions initiate sap run.

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


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Order herb, vegetable, and flower seeds
  • Order hardy bare root trees and shrubs
  • Get cold frames ready for cool season crops
  • Start slow growing warm season crops under lights indoors
  • Plan garden beds (be sure to rotate crops)
  • Check fruit bearing trees and shrubs for damage from wildlife
  • Prune trees and shrubs
  • 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
  • Begin light applications of fertilizer for houseplants
Sheep in Snow - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 3

Average Low Temperatures:

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


April Homesteading – Farm Chores

  • Keep livestock protected from wind and cold
  • Check for signs of hypothermia and frostbite on poultry
  • 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
  • Place hatchery orders to reserve breeds you want check hatching and brooding supplies
  • Incubate fertile eggs if you plan to hatch your own
  • Check heat lamps and purchase new bulbs if needed
  • Sanitize brooder box and purchase bedding
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Gather eggs often in freezing weather
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Repair fencing and check for signs of predators
  • Check birch and maple for sap run, collect sap and make syrup when weather initiates sap run

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


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Order vegetable, fruit, and flower seeds if you haven’t already done so
  • Order bare root trees and shrubs
  • Plan garden beds (be sure to rotate crops)
  • Get cold frames ready for cool season crops
  • Start warm season crops under lights indoors
  • Plant perennial seeds under lights indoors
  • Check fruit-bearing trees and shrubs for damage from wildlife
  • Prune trees and shrubs
  • 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 receive light applications of fertilizer
  • Divide and re-pot houseplants
Seedlings - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 4

Average Low Temperatures:

  • -30 to -25F in zone 4a
  • -25 to -20F in zone 4b


April Homesteading – Farm Chores

  • Most livestock will be ready to go outside in good weather
  • Water should be kept ice-free
  • Make sure barn is ventilated (but draft free) to prevent disease
  • Give poultry corn or sunflower seed in the evening to keep them warm
  • Order day old poultry if you haven’t already done so
  • Clean and sanitize brooder box and purchase feed
  • Incubate fertile eggs if you plan to hatch your own
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Gather eggs often in freezing weather
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Repair fencing
  • Collect and boil sap when weather warms and sap runs

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


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Direct seed cool-season crops in cold frames if the weather allows
  • Harden off cool season crops in cold frames, prepare to cover with a heavy blanket in cold snaps
  • Plant warm-season herbs, vegetables, and flowers indoors under lights if you haven’t already done so
  • Prepare garden beds when soil is warm and dry enough
  • Plant bare-root trees, shrubs, and perennials when soil can be worked
  • 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
  • Fertilize and re-pot houseplants
Pepper Plant - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 5

Average Low Temperatures:

  • -20 to -15F in zone 5a
  • -15 to -10F in zone 5b


April Homesteading – Farm Chores

  • Allow livestock outside in good weather
  • Clean bard and open doors to air out
  • Begin cutting back on corn and sunflower seeds for poultry
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Gather eggs often in freezing weather
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Purchase day old poultry
  • Hatch fertile eggs
  • Clean and sanitize brooder, and water and feed containers
  • Purchase feed, electrolytes, and probiotics for day-old poultry
  • Fix fences, check for signs of predators
  • Protect small livestock from predators coming out of hibernation
  • Prepare for livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Collect and boil sap when the weather warms and sap runs
  • Prepare the soil in fields when weather permits

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


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Start warm-season herbs, vegetables, and flowers under lights indoors if you haven’t already
  • Plant seeds of cool-season crops in cold frames
  • Put in early crop of potatoes and onion sets, if the soil is warm enough
  • Harden off or transplant cool season crops in cold frames when the weather allows
  • Prepare garden beds when soil is dry enough to work
  • Plant hardy perennials outdoors
  • Plan garden beds (be sure to rotate crops)
  • Plant bare-root fruit trees and shrubs
  • Check fruit-bearing trees and shrubs for damage from wildlife
  • Prune winter damaged trees and shrubs
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows or under lights
  • Check houseplants for scale and mites, treat if necessary
  • Fertilize and re-pot houseplants
Hatching Chicks - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 6

Average Low Temperatures:

  • -10 to -5F in zone 6a
  • -5 to 0F in zone 6b


April Homesteading – Farm Chores

  • Allow livestock out on pasture
  • Make sure barn is ventilated to prevent disease
  • Poultry may lay eggs with 14 hours of light a day
  • Gather eggs often
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Purchase day-old poultry, including meat chickens
  • Hatch fertile eggs
  • Clean and sanitize brooder box and feed and water containers, purchase feed
  • Be on call for livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Repair fencing and check for signs of predators
  • Protect small livestock from predators coming out of hibernation
  • Collect and boil sap if it is still running
  • Prepare fields and plant crops when weather permits

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


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Harden off warm-season herbs, vegetables, and flowers in cold frames if the weather allows
  • Transplant cool season crops outdoors
  • Plant potatoes, direct seed cool-season crops in the garden
  • Plant perennials in beds
  • Complete preparation of garden beds when soil is dry enough to work
  • Plant growing fruit trees, shrubs, and perennial fruits and vegetables
  • Prune winter damage from trees and shrubs if you haven’t done so already
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows
  • Increase fertilizer for houseplants and re-pot
Spinach Seedling

USDA Zone 7

Average Low Temperatures:

  • 0 to 5F in zone 7a
  • 5 to 10F in zone 7b


April Homesteading – Farm Chores

  • Allow livestock out on pasture
  • Poultry should be in good production
  • Gather eggs often
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Purchase day old poultry or hatch your own fertile eggs if you haven’t done so already
  • Care for chicks in the brooder
  • Assist in livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Repair fencing
  • Plant spring crops when fields are ready

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


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Harvest cool season crops from cold frames
  • Direct seed warm season crops in cold frames
  • Harden off warm-season herbs, vegetables and flowers in cold frames and transplant to garden beds as weather allows
  • Finish preparing garden beds
  • Finish planting growing fruit trees, shrubs, and perennial fruits and vegetables if you haven’t done so
  • Apply light horticultural sprays late in the evening to prevent harm to pollinators
  • Spray fruit trees for canker if you haven’t already done so
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows and move outside on warm days
  • Fertilize and re-pot houseplants
Spring veggies - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 8

Average Low Temperatures:

  • 10 to 15F in zone 8a
  • 15 to 20F in zone 8b


April Homesteading – Farm Chores

  • Pasture livestock
  • Poultry should be in prime egg-laying condition
  • Gather eggs often
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Move young poultry to the new coop as they are ready
  • Assist with livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Repair fencing
  • Plant spring crops if you haven’t already done so

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


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Harvest cool-season crops
  • Direct seed warm-season vegetables in beds
  • Transplant vegetable seeds and transplants in beds if you haven’t already done so
  • Water and lightly fertilize newly planted fruit trees, shrubs, hardy perennials, and bare root roses
  • Spray for peach leaf curl, leaf blight, and canker if you haven’t already done so
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows & move outdoors in nice weather
  • Fertilize and re-pot houseplants
Ducklings - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 9

Average Low Temperatures:

  • 20 to 25F in zone 9a
  • 25 to 30F in zone 9b


April Homesteading – Farm Chores

  • Pasture livestock
  • Poultry should be in prime laying condition
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Move young poultry to the new coop when they are ready
  • Assist in livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Repair fencing and check for signs of predators
  • Care for field crops

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


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Harvest cool-season crops
  • Transplant warm-season herbs, vegetables, and flowers if you haven’t already done so
  • 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 canker
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in sunny windows, move outdoors in nice weather
  • Increase fertilizer and re-pot houseplants
  • Watch for signs of pests in fruit, vegetable, and field crops and treat when needed
Veggie garden - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 10

Average Low Temperatures:

  • 30 to 35F in zone 10a
  • 35 to 40F in zone 10b


April Homesteading – Farm Chores

  • Pasture livestock
  • Poultry may need shade and cool water on hot days
  • Keep bedding clean and dry
  • Move young poultry to the new coop
  • Assist in, livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Repair fencing
  • Protect small livestock from predators

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


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Harvest garden crops
  • Protect crops with shade cloth when needed
  • Plant heat-loving plants in beds
  • Check citrus trees for pests
  • Water citrus trees, fruit trees, shrubs, hardy perennials, and  annuals
  • Move herbs and houseplants shady spots and water often in the heat
Lemons - The New Homesteader's Almanac

USDA Zone 11

Average Low Temperatures:

  • 40 to 45F for zone 11a
  • 45 to 50F for zone 11b


April Homesteading – Farm Chores

  • Pasture livestock
  • Poultry may need shade and extra water in hot weather
  • Keep bedding clean and dry to prevent disease
  • Check young poultry often for signs of heat distress
  • Assist in, livestock birthing, clean and check bottles and first aid kit
  • Check field crops for insect damage, treat as necessary

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


April Homesteading – Garden Chores

  • Water and weed herbs, vegetables and flowers in garden beds
  • Water newly planted mangoes, avocados, papayas as needed
  • Water, weed and mulch beds
  • Check citrus trees for pests
  • Grow herbs and houseplants in shade
  • Check for pests and hand pick or spray as needed
  • Fertilize houseplants

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.

 
April-Homesteading-Chores

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.

3 comments on “April Homesteading Chores by USDA Zone

  1. Pingback: Simple Homestead Hop#206 | Leah Lynch

  2. Lisa Lombardo Post author

    Hey WT…thanks for the info…I know my family in NY is still tapping trees this month. Some years it goes on for months and other years there’s hardly anything!

  3. WT Abernathy

    Being in zone 5 out in the New Hampshire woods, we also add maple syrup production to our list, which includes taking down all the buckets after the last frost (Apr 15th).

    The chickens are looking forward to some foraging action as well away from the coop-

    Cheers for a great list!

Comments are closed.