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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.
What number planting zone am I in?
Check the USDA planting 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 does direct sow mean?
If the ground isn't frozen solid and the soil isn't 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 packet 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 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.
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 allows your seedlings to adjust to outdoor life, spring rains, 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.
What should I check before planting transplants or seeds outside?
Before you plant, make sure that it's warm enough outside, your plant will have the right amount of sun, and the soil is healthy. Check your seed envelope to see if it likes shade, partial sun, or full sun, as well as what time of year it should be planted. Space your plants as described 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 cucumbers and eggplant, as well as flowers that require an acidic pH. 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.
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 flowers and young veggie plants when the ground thaws and the frosts are through. 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 Garden Center in W Seattle?
Plant Hardiness Zones Explained
The first thing to learn when planting vegetables, 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 plant bell pepper seedlings 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. Read your seed packet for details. If you start seeds later than recommended, it's not ideal, but it will even out as time passes.
Gardening in Your Growing Zone
In the Pacific Northwest, Montana, and Idaho, there’s a wide range of climates and growing zones. Most of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington 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, waiting until the frost has passed will 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 perennials or annuals, 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. 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.
Your seeds might struggle to grow or get washed away, or rodents or bugs might eat the sprouts. But if you're really fortunate, you might get a strong sprout from each place you sowed seeds, perfectly spaced and ready to grow all spring. The reality of your garden will usually be somewhere in between, and spreading out tiny sprouts throughout the soil isn't so bad. You know those sprouts are hardy and primed to survive, although there are no guarantees.
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 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 sun. Keep your seeds warm with warming 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
Carefully take your seedling out of the container. A good way to do this is to turn it sideways or upside-down and gently squeeze the plastic to break the seal. If your transplant grew in the garden, leave plenty of room around the stem and dig deeper than you think with your garden trowel. You don't want to damage the root system. Place it into the hole you dug for it, even with the surrounding soil.
Protect Your Garden With Mulch
Finish your garden bed with mulch and compost. Compost enriches the soil so your garden can grow even better. It may help foster larger plants that bear more flowers and fruit. Mulch keeps your soil moist 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 perfect 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 what 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 W Seattle Garden Center, online, or on our mobile app. Let's get growing together.
2701 Utah Ave South
Seattle, WA 98134
3.18 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 9:00pm
Sun: 7:00am - 8:00pm
6810 S 180th St
Tukwila, WA 98188
8.41 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 7:00am - 8:00pm
901 S Grady Way
Renton, WA 98057
8.59 mi
Mon-Sat: 6:00am - 10:00pm
Sun: 7:00am - 8:00pm