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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

(260)497-4000

Tool & Truck Rental

(260)497-4010

Store Hours

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

Sun:
8:00am - 8:00pm

Curbside:
09:00am - 6:00pm

Location

6235 Lima Rd

Fort Wayne, IN 46818

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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 planting zone am I in?

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

Is it ok to plant seeds outside in the spring?

If the soil isn't frozen or cold, consider planting your fruit, veggie, or flower 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 flower seeds?

Read your seed envelope 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 sown indoors, and your seed package will tell you that, too. You'll be a pro at planting seeds in no time.

Should I harden off my seedlings before planting them outside?

Yes, 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. Read your seed packets or speak to a garden center associate for more info on caring for your seedlings.

What should I check 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 package to see if it likes shade, full sun, or partial sun, as well as what time of year it should be planted. Space your plants as described on the seed package 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 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 cucumbers and eggplant, 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.

The Home Depot Garden Center at Ft Wayne

Celebrate Springtime Gardening
It's time to start thinking of spring. Clean the shed and sweep out the gazebo to prepare for fragrant breezes, sprouts poking up, and warmer temperatures. 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 plant seeds directly into the earth. What better way to start than by exploring your favorite local plant nursery?

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 into blocks by climate. Find your zone on the USDA planting 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 6 garden can support plants listed as Zones 1–6. You can plant seeds indoors roughly a month before you can plant them outside, known as direct sow. Always read your seed packet for details. If you start seeds later than recommended, it's not ideal, but it should even out as time passes.

Gardening in Your Growing Zone
The Midwest is mostly Zones 6 and 7 throughout Indiana, Michigan, and Kentucky. You’ll find pockets of Zone 5 and stretches of Zone 4 in the Upper Peninsula. In Zones 5 and 6, the outdoor growing season doesn’t begin here until mid-March or even April, although you can plant some veggie seeds halfway through February. Warmer Zone 7 can start planting earlier, and Zone 4 much later on. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and other classic garden crops will do well in this region, and most of them can get an early jump on growing indoors before spring really moves in.

Also, check out cruciferous veggies and certain herbs if you're ready to get planting. This includes kale, cabbage, and broccoli. Greens like spinach, artichokes, and fragrant herbs, including parsley, basil, and oregano, also don't mind an early start. 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.

Start Seeds Indoors
Grow your garden from seeds by starting them indoors in your own plant nursery. 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. Then you have everything you need to try your hand at 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, 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 fan on low to mimic the wind and strengthen their stems.

Harden Your Seedlings
When you're hardening your sprouts and gradually introducing them to the outdoors, be flexible. Keep an eye on your baby plants. Bring them inside or move them to a shady spot if they're looking rough. As always, make sure they're watered enough. Take wilted plants inside and give them a good drink, making sure they're strong before setting them outdoors again.

Transplant Young Plants Into Their New Homes
When your plants have three or four real leaves — different from miniature seedling leaves — transplant them. In quality soil, dig a hole 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, either in the hole or on top of the soil after it's planted. 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 it all off with mulch and compost. 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 larger and stronger plants that bear more flowers and fruit. 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. Prepare to fertilize your lawn, plan your garden and landscaping, and browse The Home Depot nursery to find inspiration on which spring flowers to plant when the weather warms. For those without lawns, consider adding artificial grass, a pellet grill, or an outdoor rug to your balcony or patio. Shop for the seeds, soil, and fertilizer you need in the aisles of your Ft Wayne Garden Center, online, or on our mobile app. Let's get growing together.

Nearby Stores

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403 Smaltz Way

Auburn, IN 46706

16.32 mi

Tool & Truck Rental

Pro Service Desk

(260)920-7903

Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 9:00pm

Sun: 8:00am - 8:00pm