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Garden Center

Contact Us

Pro Service Desk

(541)506-7402

Rental Center

(541)506-7405

Store Hours

Mon-Sat:
7:00am - 9:00pm

Sun:
8:00am - 8:00pm

Curbside:
09:00am - 6:00pm

Location

3600 W 6th Street

The Dalles, OR 97058

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Popular at Your Garden Center

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 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.

What's direct sow in gardening?

If the ground isn't frozen solid and the soil isn't 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 seedlings and sprouts can't weather those conditions. You can also start your seeds indoors if you'd like. Consult your seed packet for how and when to sow seeds.

Do you carry organic seeds and plants?

We offer many organic gardening options, including organic fruit seeds and veggie seeds, as well as organic herb and flower seeds that are subject to availability. We also carry the organic fertilizer to feed your plants and the organic soil to plant them in.

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 allows your seedlings to adjust to the great outdoors and rain, sun, and temperature swings, 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. Gently coax your transplant and the surrounding clod of dirt out into the palm of your hand, 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 in a puddle of water, and don't pack 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, your perfectly spaced sprouts will pop up soon.

The Home Depot Garden Center at The Dalles

Celebrate Springtime Gardening
It's time to start thinking of spring. Clean the shed and sweep out the gazebo to prepare for fragrant breezes, warmer temperatures, and sprouts poking up out of the ground. Planting seeds indoors near a sunny window means you'll be ready to transplant spring flowers and young veggie plants when the ground thaws and the frosts are through. You might even want to sow 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 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 into blocks by climate. Find your zone on the USDA 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. You'll have good results with plants that have your zone number or less. In other words, a Zone 8 garden can support plants listed as Zones 1–8. 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 plants later than recommended, it's not ideal, but it should even out as time passes.

Gardening in Your Growing Zone
In the Pacific Northwest, Idaho, and Montana, there’s a wide range of climates and growing zones. Most of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho are Zones 6–9, with the higher peaks coming in as Zones 4–5. Montana is in Zone 5 on the western end, but the mountainous regions are mostly Zone 4, with the tallest mountains as Zone 3.

The differences in planting zones means your seed sowing times will vary. The coastal regions in Zones 8 and 9 can start many seeds indoors in mid-January. Colder regions in 6–8 should wait a little longer to plant, and all these zones need to wait an additional month before planting seeds outdoors rather than indoors. Mountainous regions in Zones 3 to 5 will have the shortest growing season, with seed starters going in later in the spring. Although the weather may vary, wait until the frost has passed to give your seeds the best chance at a healthy life.

Popular veggies of all kinds, including cucumbers and tomatoes, are fine with an early spring or late winter start indoors under the grow lights. Your spring flower seed choices, whether they're annuals or perennials, can also often get an indoor beginning.

Plant Seeds Outside With Direct Sow
Planting seeds with the direct sow method, right into the soil, is another option. There's less planning and tending than growing indoors. If you like to go with the flow, follow the instructions on your seed pouch and give it a try.

Prepare to deal with whatever hand nature deals you: Be ready for all your seeds to sprout, none of them to come up, and anything in between. Your seedlings will need to survive wind, rain, and sudden cold snaps, as well as rodents and bugs that want a crunchy green snack. But if you're lucky, you'll get strong sprouts that are ready to grow all spring.

Start Seeds Indoors
If you're eager to get growing or would like more control in the care and feeding of seedlings, start your seeds indoors in your own plant nursery. 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 cozy with heating mats and grow lights, water them carefully with a mister 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
By now, your plants have 3 or 4 real leaves — they'll look different from the miniature seedling leaves. When you're not expecting soaking rain, and the ground is warm, 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 sun and spacing. That's also a transplant situation, as is repotting plants into larger pots.

Protect Your Garden With Mulch
Finish your garden bed 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. Mulch and compost 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 right amount.

Greet the Spring
Don't miss a minute of growing season. Plan your garden and landscaping, prepare to fertilize your lawn, 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, fertilizer, and seeds you need in the aisles of your The Dalles Garden Center, online, or on our mobile app. Let's get growing together.

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