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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.
Enter your preferred material, the square footage and mulch depth of the coverage space for accurate results.
We'll calculate the amount of fencing you should purchase based on your property needs.
How do I check my USDA planting zone?
Check the USDA planting zone map, as planting zones have shifted slightly through 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.
What's direct sow in gardening?
If the soil isn't frozen or cold, consider planting your fruit, flower, or veggie 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 envelope for when and how to sow seeds.
How do I plant flower seeds?
Read your seed packet for info on proper spacing, depth, and how many seeds to sow per hole when planting 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. 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 first before you transplant them. Hardening is the process of getting them used to the great outdoors and rain, sun, and temperature swings. 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.
What should I do before planting seeds or transplants outside?
Before you plant, make sure that your plant will have the right amount of sun, the soil is healthy, and it's warm enough outside. Check your seed envelope to see if it likes partial sun, shade, or full 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 flourish.
Should I use peat moss starters or coir starters?
Seed starters, full of nutrients in convenient pellets or pots, 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.
Spring Deals
Our Spring Deals give you a great time to save on lawn and garden favorites as well as outdoor power equipment. Find low prices on tools and finish your home repair and spring cleaning projects now. That way, you can just relax when summer comes. This spring sale runs from April 24th through May 7th, so shop fast.
Celebrate Springtime Gardening
On beautiful spring days, tidy the yard before everything blooms in earnest. You can also add beauty and interest with hardscaping, water features, and stonework. Don't forget to clean out the shed and sweep the gazebo in preparation for spring, too. No matter what outdoor projects you choose to tackle and which plants you need, you'll find that The Home Depot East San Jose Garden Center is your local plant nursery to help you enjoy your spring activities to the fullest.
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 into blocks by climate. Find your zone on the USDA plant hardiness 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. For best results, choose plants in your zone number or less. In other words, a Zone 7 garden can support plants listed as Zones 1–7. 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 plants a little later than recommended, it's not ideal, but it will likely even out as time passes.
Gardening in Your Growing Zone
This region ranges from 7–9, with higher elevations in Zones 5 and 6. You'll find fertile land in some places, but deserts and mountains with harsher conditions elsewhere. What you can grow and when will vary considerably depending on where you live. In Zones 5 and 6, the outdoor growing season doesn't begin here until mid-March or even April, although you can start some veggies by seed halfway through February. Warmer Zones 7–9 can plant earlier, but if you're in the desert, you'll likely want to investigate indoor gardening in a sunroom or porch.
Utilize greenhouses to grow herbs and vegetables. Native plants like succulents, cacti, and other hardy desert shrubs will grow outside with ease. Other beloved garden vegetables love the heat, like peppers, cucumbers, squash, and tomatoes. If you start them indoors and carefully introduce them outdoors in the shade, you can enjoy raising vegetables even in a dry climate. However, many spring flowers are sensitive to that much sun and heat, so research to find which varieties can handle the weather before planting outdoors.
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 reliability and spacing compared to indoor starts. However, if you like to go with the flow, follow the instructions on your seed pouch and try it out.
Your seeds might get washed away or struggle to grow, or insects or animals might eat the sprouts. But if you're really lucky, you might get strong sprouts, 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 seedling garden. 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 sunlight. Keep your seeds warm with heating mats and grow lights, water them carefully with a spray bottle 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
Place your transplants in the ground, then give them a generous drink of water. Surround them with mulch, marking where the plant is with a stick so you can easily find it among the grass clippings, old leaves, or straw. Consider putting up chicken wire or other protective measures if rabbits, squirrels, deer, or chipmunks visit your yard regularly, as your sprouts may otherwise become a snack.
Protect Your Garden With Mulch
Finish your flower bed with mulch and compost. Compost enriches the soil so your garden can grow even better. It may help foster larger and stronger plants that bear more flowers and fruit. Mulch controls weeds and keeps the soil moist. Compost and mulch can be purchased in-store or created at home. 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 or a pellet grill to your outdoor space. Shop for the soil, seeds, and fertilizer you need in the aisles of your East San Jose Garden Center, online, or on our mobile app. Let's get growing together.
2181 Monterey Hwy
San Jose, CA 95125
4.29 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 9:00pm
Sun: 7:00am - 8:00pm
635 W Capitol Expy
San Jose, CA 95136
5.74 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 7:00am - 8:00pm
1177 Great Mall Dr
Milpitas, CA 95035
5.99 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
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