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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

(941)360-7413

Rental Center

(941)360-7410

Store Hours

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

Sun:
8:00am - 8:00pm

Curbside:
09:00am - 6:00pm

Location

5475 University Pkwy

Bradenton, FL 34201

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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 number planting zone am I in?

Check the USDA plant hardiness zone map, as planting zones have changed slightly 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.

Can I just put seeds in the ground?

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

How do I plant fruit seeds?

Check your seed package for the best info on how to grow spring flowers, fruits, and vegetables — indoors or outdoors. Requirements vary with each seed type. Certain seeds should only be planted indoors, and your seed envelope will tell you that, too. You'll be a pro at planting seeds in no time.

Do I have to 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 allows your seedlings to adjust to the great outdoors, 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 leaving the plant as an island with a moat around it, and don't tamp down the ground too tightly. Your plant baby needs to breathe.

What are seed tapes?

If you're dealing with extremely tiny seeds or want more guidance in planting, consider seed tapes. They're biodegradable pieces of paper with tiny seeds affixed at regular intervals. Just bury the tape and water as directed. If all goes well, you'll have perfectly spaced sprouts pop up soon.

The Home Depot Garden Center at E Bradenton

Set Up For Springtime
It's time to start thinking of spring. Sweep the gazebo and clean out the shed to prepare for warmer temperatures, sprouts poking up, and fragrant breezes. Planting seeds indoors near a sunny window means you'll be ready to transplant spring annuals and young veggie plants when the frosts are through and the ground thaws. You might even want to sow organic seeds directly into the earth. What better way to start than by exploring your favorite local plant nursery, The Home Depot E Bradenton Garden Center?

Plant Hardiness Zones Explained
The first thing to know 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 5 garden can support plants listed as Zones 1–5. You can plant seeds indoors roughly a month before you can plant them outside, known as direct sow. Read your seed packet for details. If you start plants a little later than recommended, it's not ideal, but it will likely 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 sprouts or early-riser bulb plants during cold times.

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

Start Seeds Indoors
Save money and gain the satisfaction of growing your garden from seeds by starting them indoors in your own seedling garden. We've got all the seed starter supplies you'll need. Make sure you have a warm and sunny spot that gets at least 12 hours of light and good soil, a spray bottle of water, and patience. Then you have everything you need to try growing seeds. Early spring light isn't usually strong enough, so we recommend extra lighting to keep those seeds warm enough to germinate.

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. 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 inch-tall micro-seedlings are fragile but resilient. Seedlings don't get all this pampering in nature when they volunteer and grow wherever they please, 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
Remember to harden your seedlings for best results when they're grown. On days that are warmer than 45–50 degrees, take your pots or trays of seedlings outside to slowly warm in the shade for two hours, but bring them inside at night. They're not ready for direct sunlight yet or harsh nighttime temps. Gradually add more outside time each day, gently introducing your plants to the sun. 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 when a late-season frost sneaks back in.

Transplant Young Plants Into Their New Homes
When your plants have three or four real leaves — different from miniature seedling leaves — it's time to 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 room with nutrient-rich topsoil. Apply any fertilizer as directed on the package, either on top of the soil after it's planted or in the hole. Only apply as much as recommended, as you could burn the plant and kill it instead of helping it.

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

Greet the Spring
Early spring is an exciting time in the world of gardening. Plan your garden and landscaping, prepare to fertilize your lawn, and browse The Home Depot nursery to find inspiration on what to plant when the weather warms. For those without lawns, consider adding artificial grass, an outdoor rug, or a pellet grill to your patio or balcony. Shop for the seeds, fertilizer, and soil you need in the aisles of your E Bradenton Garden Center, online, or on our mobile app. Let's get growing together.

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