#1 Home Improvement Retailer

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

pro installer with home depot shirt using power drill on wooden furniture
the home depot logo with home services and tag line let us do it for you
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(708)588-1803
Tool & Truck Rental(708)588-1809
Store Hours
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 8:00am - 6:00pm
Curbside: 09:00am - 6:00pm
Location
140 Countryside Plaza
Countryside, IL 60525
map pin
map preview

The Home Depot Garden Center at Countryside

The Home Depot's Spring Black Friday Sale
Our Spring Black Friday sale is a great time to save on outdoor power equipment, patio furniture, and lawn and garden supplies. Spruce up your lawn with fertilizer, add fresh flowers to your garden, then relax outside to enjoy it all. This spring sale runs from April 4th to 28th, so shop fast.

Small blue house with lots of colorful flowers in front garden

It's time to start thinking of spring. We're here to help you prepare for sprouts poking up, warmer temperatures, and fragrant breezes. Planting seeds indoors means you'll be ready to transplant young veggie plants and spring annuals when the frosts are through and the ground thaws. You might even want to directly plant organic seeds into the earth.

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 into blocks by climate. Find your zone on the USDA zone map and learn when to plant seeds.

For example, you could transplant bell peppers 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 6 garden can support plants listed as Zones 1–6. The timeframe to direct sow outdoors in your garden is often around a month later than the indoor start date. Always read your seed packet for details. If you start plants later than recommended, it's not ideal, but it will likely even out as time passes.

Gardening in Your Growing Zone
This area is primarily in Zone 6, with Zone 5 starting in Central Illinois, slightly north of Peoria and Bloomington-Normal. The outdoor growing season doesn’t begin here until mid-March or even April, although you can plant some veggie seeds halfway through February. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and other classic garden crops will do well in this region, and most of them can get an early start indoors before spring really moves in.

Also, check out cruciferous veggies and certain herbs if you’re ready to get planting. This includes cabbage, broccoli, and kale. Greens like spinach, artichokes, and fragrant herbs, including basil, parsley, and oregano, also don't mind an early beginning. The main concern is waiting until the frost has passed for the season, so planting seeds outdoors as direct sow is later here compared to farther south.

Plant Seeds Outside With Direct Sow
Planting seeds with the direct sow method, right into the soil, is another option. It doesn't give you as much organized planning in terms of reliability and spacing compared to indoor starts. However, if you like to go with the flow, follow the instructions on your seed pack and try it out.

Prepare to deal with whatever hand nature deals you: You could have no seeds that germinate. A critter could eat the seedlings. All the seeds you plant in each hole may sprout, so you'll need to thin them out by only leaving the most robust sprouts. Garden pests or bugs might make a meal out of your seedlings before they take off. But if you're lucky, you'll get strong sprouts that are ready to grow all spring.

Start Seeds Indoors
If you're eager to get growing or would like more control in the care and feeding of seedlings, start your seeds indoors instead. 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 sunlight and rain. 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
When your plants should have three or four real leaves — different from mini seedling leaves – transplant them. In quality soil, dig a hole that's the same size as the dirt plug where your transplant has been growing. If your ground soil isn't fantastic, dig a slightly bigger hole and fill the extra space with nutrient-rich topsoil. Apply any fertilizer as directed on the package. Only apply as much as recommended, as you could burn and kill the plant instead of helping it.

Protect Your Garden With Mulch
Finish your planting by following it with mulch and compost. Compost enriches the soil so your garden can grow even better. It may help foster larger plants that bear more fruit and flowers. Mulch keeps your soil moist and controls weeds. Compost and mulch 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 right amount.

Greet the Spring
Early spring is an exciting time in the world of gardening. Don't miss a minute of growing season. Plan your garden and landscaping, prepare to fertilize your lawn, and browse our garden center pages to find inspiration on what to plant when the weather warms. Shop for the seeds, fertilizer, and soil you need in the aisles of your Countryside Garden Center, online, or on our mobile app. Let's get growing together.

Shop Outdoor and Garden Brands

Frequently Asked Questions About Gardening

How do I know what planting zone I'm in?

Check the USDA zone map, as planting zones have changed slightly over the years. Zones with higher numbers can plant earlier in the year. Increase your odds of successful gardening by choosing plants that are meant for your zone.

What's direct sow in gardening?

If the ground isn't frozen solid and the soil isn't cold, consider planting your fruit, flower, or veggie seeds directly into your garden. This is called the "direct sow" method. The time to plant will be 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 package for when and how to sow seeds.

How do I plant fruit seeds?

Follow the advice on your seed envelope. It'll tell you when to start them indoors and when to direct sow. Generally, you'll add several seeds per planting hole, then press them into the soil as directed. Mark where you buried the seeds with a flag, wooden craft stick, or twig so you don't mistake them for weeds later.

Should I harden off my seedlings before planting them outside?

Yes, for best results, if you raised plants indoors from seeds, harden them first before you transplant them. Hardening allows your seedlings to adjust to outdoor life and the fluctuating spring weather, making them more resilient against cold snaps. It slows their growth until they're strong and ready to take off during a spring warm front.

How do I plant a transplant or baby plant?

Squeeze the plastic around the plant to loosen the soil. Carefully coax the plug of dirt with the plant into your palm, then place it into the hole you dug for it. Make sure the top of your transplant's soil is even with the garden soil, and carefully press the earth into place. Avoid mounding a volcano of dirt around your plant, and don't tamp down the ground too tightly. Your plant baby needs to breathe.

Should I use peat moss starters or coir starters?

Seed starters, full of nutrients in 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 need acidic soil. 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.

Nearby Stores

700 Broadview Village Sq

Broadview, IL 60155

5.11 mi

Pro Service Desk

(708)531-5427

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

Sun: 8:00am - 6:00pm

7200 S Cicero Ave

Chicago, IL 60629

6.51 mi

Tool & Truck Rental

(708)563-5404

Pro Service Desk

(708)563-5427

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

Sun: 8:00am - 6:00pm

300 Commons Dr

Chicago Ridge, IL 60415

6.69 mi

Tool & Truck Rental

(708)952-7470

Pro Service Desk

(708)952-7464

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

Sun: 8:00am - 6:00pm

Garden Project Calculators