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Do you have what you need to make your garden grow?
Explore Your Local Garden Center at a Home Depot Near You.
Get inspired to upgrade your plants and landscaping.
Garden Center
Store Hours
Mon-Sat:
6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun:
8:00am - 8:00pm
Curbside:
09:00am - 6:00pm
Location
175 Laboratory Rd
Oak Ridge, TN 37830
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Garden Project Calculators
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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.
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Mulch Calculator
Enter your preferred material, the square footage and mulch depth of the coverage space for accurate results.
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Fencing Calculator
We'll calculate the amount of fencing you should purchase based on your property needs.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Gardening
What's my planting zone?
Check the USDA 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.
Can I just put seeds in the ground?
If the soil isn't cold and frozen, 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 seedlings and sprouts can't weather those conditions. You can also start your seeds indoors if you'd like. Consult your seed envelope for how and when to sow seeds.
Do you carry organic seeds and plants?
Yes, we've got a variety of organic options, including organic veggie seeds and fruit seeds, as well as organic flower and herb seeds that are subject to availability. We carry the organic soil to plant them in as well as the organic fertilizer to feed your plants.
Do I have to 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 outdoor life, spring rains, 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. Read your seed packets or speak to a garden center associate for more info on caring for your tender seedlings.
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.
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 Oak Ridge
Shop Our 2025 Spring Deals
Enjoy some of the top bargains of the season with our Spring Deals. Spring cleaning applies both indoors and outdoors, so refresh your lawn and garden with gorgeous flowers. Remember to check out our outdoor power equipment, too. Save on everything you need during our spring sale, which runs only from April 24th through May 7th. Don't miss out on these savings.
Celebrate Springtime Gardening
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 flowers 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 Oak Ridge Garden Center?
Plant Hardiness Zones Explained
The first thing you should know when planting spring flowers, veggies, 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 growing 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. The plants that'll thrive in your area are in your zone — plus all the zones numbered less than that. 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. Be sure to 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
Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia are in Zones 6–8. Cruciferous veggies and certain herbs are ready to grow when you're ready to plant. This includes broccoli, cabbage, and kale. Greens like spinach and artichokes, early-blooming annuals like marigolds, and fragrant herbs, including parsley, basil, 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 when 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
Save money when you 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. Veteran planters and new gardeners alike should disinfect seed trays with a watered-down bleach solution before reusing them each year. When your pots or trays are prepared, plant your seeds. As for the soil, test the mineral levels and pH to find if it needs additives or amendments. Soil pH differs among regions, and what your plants need depends on what you're growing. Most vegetable plants like a pH of around 6.5. Soil amendments can tip the balance of your soil in a way that'll help your plants.
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 can be sure they're not weeds. Otherwise, it'll be a surprise when the sprouts push out of the soil.
Sprouts
When your seeds have sprouted but aren't ready to go outside yet, you can still prepare them for outdoor life. 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
Be sure to harden your seedlings for best results when they're grown. On days that are warmer than 45–50 degrees, take your trays or pots of seedlings outside to slowly warm in the shade for two hours, but bring them inside at night. Cloudy days are fine, but no direct sunlight or harsh nighttime chills 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 when a late-season frost sneaks back in.
Transplant Young Plants Into Their New Homes
By now, your plants have three or four 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 direct sowed, 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 your flower bed 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 stronger plants that bear more fruit and flowers. 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 an outdoor rug, artificial grass, or a pellet grill to your balcony or patio. Shop for the soil, seeds, and fertilizer you need in the aisles of your Oak Ridge Garden Center, online, or on our mobile app. Let's get growing together.
Nearby Stores
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9361 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37922
10.97 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 8:00am - 8:00pm
2751 Schaad Road
Knoxville, TN 37921
11.75 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 8:00am - 8:00pm
250 Abbie Dr
Lenoir City, TN 37772
14.41 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 8:00am - 8:00pm
