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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(910)478-2402
Tool & Truck Rental(910)478-2408
Store Hours
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 8:00am - 8:00pm
Curbside: 09:00am - 6:00pm
Location
479 Western Blvd
Jacksonville, NC 28546
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gardening

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

Check the USDA planting zone map, as planting zones have shifted over the years. Planting 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.

When can I plant seeds in my garden?

If the soil is warm and pliable, consider planting your flower, fruit, 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 how and when to sow seeds.

How do I plant fruit seeds?

Read your seed packet for the best info on how to grow fruits, veggies, and spring flowers — indoors or outdoors. Requirements vary with each seed type. Some seeds should only be sown indoors, and your seed envelope will tell you that, too. For more details, check out how to grow a garden from seed.

Do I have to harden off my seedlings before planting them outside?

Yes, if you raised plants indoors from seeds, harden them 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 prep for planting transplants or seeds outside?

Before you plant, make sure that it's warm enough outside, the soil is healthy, and your plant will have the right amount of sun. Check your seed envelope to see if it likes shade, partial sun, or full sun, as well as what time of year it should be planted. Space your plants as described 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 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 cucumbers and eggplant, 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 Jacksonville, NC

Gardening Sale for Mother's Day
Our Mother's Day Sale is a great time to help Mom upgrade her garden. We've got deals on popular brands of herb plants, decorative plants, and those details that make a garden special: garden decor, flower pots, planters, and even patio furniture. If you're not sure of the right present when searching for Mother's Day gifts, a gift card will always be appreciated. Shop The Home Depot Mother's Day Gardening Gifts Sale from May 2nd to May 12th in-store or on our mobile app.

Mother and child gardening with tools

It's time to start thinking of spring. We're here to help you prepare for sprouts poking up, fragrant breezes, and warmer temperatures. Planting seeds indoors near a sunny window means you'll be ready to transplant spring flowers and young veggie plants 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 learn when planting veggies, 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 9 garden can support plants listed as Zones 1–9. You can plant seeds indoors roughly a month before you can plant them outside, or direct sow. Read your seed packet for details. If you start them later than recommended, it's not ideal, but it will even out as time passes.

Gardening in Your Growing Zone
West Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia are in Zones 6–8. Cruciferous veggies and certain herbs are ready to grow when you're ready to plant. This includes kale, cabbage, and broccoli. Greens like spinach and artichokes, early-blooming annuals like marigolds, and fragrant herbs, including basil, parsley, and oregano, also don't mind an early beginning. Even in the highest peaks of West Virginia in Zone 5b, traditional garden vegetables like peppers of all kinds, cucumbers, and tomatoes are fine with an early spring or late winter start indoors under the grow lights.

Look up the date of your last predicted frost, then count backward 6 to 8 weeks. That's the time you should sow your seeds indoors. The idea is to have strong baby plants that are ready for transplant at the same time the ground is warm enough. Do your best and enjoy the process – watching your plants grow, bloom, and put out tiny veggies that'll grow to harvest size is part of the fun.

Start Seeds Indoors
Grow your garden from seeds by starting them indoors. We've got all the seed starter supplies you'll need. Veteran planters and new gardeners alike should disinfect seed trays with a watered-down bleach solution before reusing them each year. When your trays or pots are prepared, plant your seeds. As for the soil, check to see if yours needs nutrient balancing. Choose fertilizers that match what you're growing. It'll help give your plants everything they need to grow big and strong.

Measure your finger to use it as a ruler. In general, you'll plant 3–5 seeds, then press them into the soil to the depth you need with your finger. Mark where you planted the seeds with a plant tag or toothpick. That way, you'll know where your seeds should pop up, and you'll know they're not weeds. Otherwise, it'll be a surprise when the sprouts push out of the soil.

Sprouts
Prepare your seed sprouts for outdoor life while they're still indoors. These micro-seedlings are fragile — only an inch or so high, with the tiniest seedling leaf or two — but they're resilient. Seedlings certainly don't get all this pampering in nature when they volunteer and grow wherever, so they can handle more than you think. However, don't go overboard, as your sprouts are still babies. You can even use an oscillating floor fan on low to mimic the wind and strengthen their stems.

Harden Your Seedlings
Harden your seedlings for best results later. On days that are warmer than 45–50 degrees, take your trays or pots of seedlings outside to slowly warm in the shade for a couple of hours, but bring them inside at night. Cloudy days are fine, but no harsh nighttime chills or direct sunlight yet. After a week or more of this, you can leave them out overnight if the temps stay warmer than 50 degrees. Cover your plants if they're in the ground and a late-season frost sneaks back in.

Transplant Young Plants Into Their New Homes
You've raised your baby plants from seeds, watched them sprout, and carefully hardened them off to brave Mother Nature. By now, your plants have 3 or 4 true leaves — they'll look different from the miniature seedling leaves. When the ground is warm, and you're not expecting soaking rain, look into transplanting your big sprouts into their new outdoor home. "Transplant" means that you put these small plants straight into pots or garden soil. In cases where you directly planted into the ground, you may still want to shuffle plants around for the best spacing and sun. That's also a transplant situation, as is repotting plants into larger pots.

Protect Your Garden With Mulch
Finish it off with compost and mulch. Compost enriches the soil so your garden can grow even better. It may help foster stronger plants that bear more fruit and flowers. Mulch keeps your soil from drying out 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
Late winter into 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 soil, seeds, and fertilizer you need in the aisles of your Jacksonville, NC Garden Center, online, or on our mobile app. Let's get growing together.

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210 Eastwood Rd

Wilmington, NC 28403

45.56 mi

Tool & Truck Rental

(910)790-7402

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(910)790-7404

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

Sun: 8:00am - 8:00pm