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Do you have what you need to make your garden grow?

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Explore Your Local Garden Center at a Home Depot Near You.
Get inspired to upgrade your plants and landscaping.

Garden Center

Contact Us

Pro Service Desk

(813)558-4400

Tool & Truck Rental

Store Hours

Mon-Sat:
6:00am - 10:00pm

Sun:
8:00am - 8:00pm

Curbside:
09:00am - 6:00pm

Location

17601 Bruce B Downs Blvd

Tampa, FL 33647

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Popular at Your Garden Center

Garden Project Calculators

Grass Seed Calculator

Grass Seed Calculator

When you're ready to seed your lawn, our calculator helps you estimate the amount of grass seed you'll need to get the job done.

Mulch Calculator

Mulch Calculator

Enter your preferred material, the square footage and mulch depth of the coverage space for accurate results.

Fencing Calculator

Fencing Calculator

We'll calculate the amount of fencing you should purchase based on your property needs.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gardening

What planting zone am I in?

Check the USDA zone map, as planting zones have shifted over the years. Planting zones with higher numbers can plant earlier in the year. Choose plants that are meant for your zone and increase your odds of successful gardening.

When can I plant seeds outside in the spring?

If the soil isn't cold and frozen, consider planting your veggie, flower, or fruit seeds directly into your garden. This is called the "direct sow" method. Plant after the threat of frost is gone for the season, as sprouts and seedlings can't weather those conditions. You can also start your seeds indoors if you'd like. Consult your seed packet for when and how to sow seeds.

Do you carry organic plants and seeds?

Yes, we've got a variety of organic options, including organic fruit seeds and veggie seeds, as well as organic flower and herb seeds that are subject to availability. We carry the organic soil to plant them in as well as the organic fertilizer to feed your plants.

Should I harden off my seedlings before planting them outside?

Yes, for best results, if you raised plants indoors from seeds in your own plant nursery, harden them before you transplant them. Hardening is the process of getting them used to the great outdoors. It slows their growth until they're strong and ready to take off during a spring warm front. Hardening also makes your plants more resilient to a sudden cold snap. Speak to a garden center associate or read your seed packets for more info on caring for your seedlings.

What should I do before planting seeds or transplants outside?

Before you plant, make sure that the soil is healthy, it's warm enough outside, and your plant will have the right amount of sun. Check your seed envelope to see if it likes full sun, shade, or partial sun, as well as what time of year it should be planted. Space your plants as described on the seed envelope for best results so your plant babies have room to grow big and strong.

Should I use peat moss starters or coir starters?

Seed starters, full of nutrients in convenient pots or pellets, work for new and experienced gardeners alike. You don't have to use these starters if you're planting in soil, but you may want to. Starting seeds in peat pots works best for delicately rooted plants like carrots and beets, as well as flowers that require an acidic pH. Some people prefer coir starters instead, as they have a neutral pH. Check what type of soil your plants need to help narrow it down, and chat with a garden center associate if you need more info.

The Home Depot Garden Center at Bruce B Downs

On beautiful spring days, tidy the yard before everything blooms in earnest. Planning your garden lets you make the most of your time and space. Don't forget to sweep out the gazebo and clean the shed in preparation for spring, too. No matter which plants you need and what outdoor projects you choose to tackle, you'll find that The Home Depot Garden Center in Bruce B Downs is the local plant nursery to help you enjoy your spring activities to the fullest.

Plant Hardiness Zones Explained
The first thing to know when planting vegetables, spring flowers, and other seeds is your planting zone. Every location in the U.S. and its territories is sorted by climate. Find your zone on the USDA zone map and learn when to plant seeds.

For example, you could plant bell pepper seedlings outdoors in mid-March in Zone 10, but not until the end of May in Zone 4. You'll have good results with plants that have your zone number or less. In other words, a Zone 8 garden can support plants listed as Zones 1–8. The timeframe to direct sow outdoors in your garden is often around a month later than the indoor start date. Be sure to read your seed packet for details. If you start them a little later than recommended, it's not ideal, but it should even out as time passes.

Gardening in Your Growing Zone
In the areas of Zones 9 and 10 stretching across the Southeast, you can plant indoors early in the year. Your odds of frost are low in this part of the country, but not zero. Keep an eye out for cold snaps and cover any early-riser bulb plants or sprouts during cold times.

Growing season begins early and ends late in this part of the country. A wide variety of plants, flowers, and vegetables thrive in Florida and southern Georgia. If you've got good soil drainage, you can even grow citrus trees. You'll have excellent results with peppers of all heat levels and colors, including bell peppers, jalapeños, and more. Cucumbers, zucchini, squash, and pumpkins, which are direct sow only, will flourish. Tomato plants will yield thriving leaves and fruit, as they're tropical in origin and love the heat.

Plant Seeds Outside With Direct Sow
Planting seeds into your garden soil, or using the direct sow method, is an alternative option. It doesn't give you as much organized planning in terms of space and reliability as starting indoors. However, if you like to go with the flow, follow the instructions on your seed packet and try it out.

Your seeds might get washed away or struggle to grow, or insects or critters might eat the sprouts. But if you're really fortunate, you might get a strong sprout from each place you sowed seeds, perfectly spaced and ready to grow all spring. The reality of your sown seeds will usually be somewhere in between, and spreading out tiny sprouts throughout the soil isn't so bad. You know those sprouts are primed to survive, although there are no guarantees in the long term.

Start Seeds Indoors
If you'd like more control over your seedlings' journey or you're eager to get growing, start your seeds indoors in your own plant nursery. In general, you can plant seeds indoors about a month before you can do it outside. Like direct sow, you push the seeds into the soil as directed on the seed packet, but that's where the similarities end.

You're responsible for giving them quality substitutes for rain and sun. Keep your seeds cozy with warming mats and grow lights, water them carefully with a mister or watering can, then thin them as they germinate in groups of three. Give them a boost with a gently blowing fan as they lengthen into sprouts if you'd like. Harden them off to get them used to outdoor conditions, then transplant them into your garden when they're big enough.

Transplant Young Plants Into Their New Homes
Carefully take your seedling out of the container. A good way to do this is to turn it upside-down or sideways and gently squeeze the plastic to break the seal. If your transplant grew in the garden, leave plenty of room around the stem and dig deeper than you think with your garden trowel. You don't want to damage the root ball. Place it into the hole you dug for it, even with the surrounding soil.

Protect Your Garden With Mulch
Finish off your garden with compost and mulch. Mulch controls weeds and keeps your soil from drying out. Compost enriches the soil so your garden can grow even better. It may help foster stronger plants that bear more flowers and fruit. Mulch and compost can be DIY creations, but you can also purchase them in-store. The next time you're looking for "mulch near me," stop by the Garden Center to get the perfect amount.

Greet the Spring
Don't miss a minute of growing season. Prepare to fertilize your lawn, plan your garden and landscaping, and browse The Home Depot nursery to find inspiration on what to plant when the weather warms. For those without lawns, consider adding an outdoor rug, artificial grass, or a pellet grill to your balcony or patio. Shop for the fertilizer, soil, and seeds you need in the aisles of your Bruce B Downs Garden Center, online, or on our mobile app. Let's get growing together.

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