Many people are using this time at home to start their first garden. It can seem overwhelming if you haven’t gardened before. Here is some advice for first-time gardeners, as well as information about places in the Triangle to get gardening supplies via curbside pickup or delivery.
The gardening stores are also open now for in-person shopping.
Where to get gardening supplies in the Triangle
Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware has a raised bed kit that requires no tools to assemble, for $69.99. You can get it with curbside pickup.
Various locations
Norwood Nursery
Norwood Nursery offers curbside pickup or delivery. The fee is based on your zip code. With over 13 acres Norwood is a great place to shop for plants while social distancing.
12825 Norwood Roa, Raleigh
919-848-1385
Atlantic Gardening Company
Atlantic Gardening Company offers curbside pickup, and delivery, with the fee based on zip code.
5217 Atlantic Avenue, Raleigh
919-878-8877
Logan’s Garden Shop
Logan’s has been an institution in Raleigh since 1965. They offer in-store shopping, delivery, and in-store pickup. They don’t have an online store, so, if you can’t go into the store, please call them or email info@logantrd.com.
707 Semart Drive, Raleigh
919-828-5337
Durham Garden Center
Durham Garden Center offers curbside pickup, and delivery, of any of their plants, plant packages, seeds, bulbs, soils, pottery and more. The physical store is open, with limited capacity. You can also at their inventory on their website.
4536 Hillsborough Road, Durham
919-384-7526
Garden Supply Company
Garden Supply Company has pickup and delivery options available.
1421 Old Apex Road, Cary
919-460-7747
Sorrell’s Lawn Care and Nursery
Sorrell’s Lawn Care and Nursery, a family owned and operated business, has delivery options to some locations in the Triangle.
1731 Turlington Road, Dunn
252-286-5358
All of the garden centers provide expertise on how to select plants and prepare the area for planting. The delivery fees generally range from $40-60.
Annuals
Colorful annuals are a good “starter garden” plant. Annuals can be grown in a small garden bed, around the mailbox and in containers by the front door or on a balcony.
Annuals are seasonal plants that live for one season; but in the Triangle, that season is much longer! Many spring blooms will last for months and even when they fade, gardeners can easily change them out for summer flowers that will last into fall.
For colorful blooms to plant now – look for petunias, calibrachoa, snapdragons, marigolds, dahlias and more.
For shade options – choose flowers like begonias, impatiens, and torenia and pair them with interesting, colorful foliage plants like caladiums and coleus.
Vegetable (and Fruit) Gardens
This is a great time to start a vegetable garden. Not only will it get you outside and doing something productive, but it will supply you with healthy food as the spring and summer progresses. If you have kids at home, gardening is a great learning activity that they will enjoy.
What should you grow?
- Most vegetables like eggplant, tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and squash thrive in warm temperatures and will produce a bountiful harvest come summertime. These plants will need full sun (6-8 hours a day). These are among the easiest to grow.
- Herbs like mint, basil, thyme, rosemary and more are also super easy to grow in containers and don’t need much space.
- Fruits like strawberries and blueberries are a fresh, nutrient-packed addition to modern-day victory gardens, too. Strawberries do well in pots or hanging baskets. Blueberry shrubs vary in size, so these can be planted in the ground or a compact option like a container.
What materials will you need?
- Materials include plants, soil and fertilizer. Most vegetables can be planted in containers or landscape.
- Choose a vegetable soil if planting in the ground or a raised bed. Be advised that Triangle residents will need to amend native soil, which tends to be heavy clay. Amend it with a vegetable or planting mix to loosen up the dense soil so water drains better and tender new roots can grow more easily.
- If planting in a container, use potting soil.
- For fertilizer, opt for a granular slow-release food just for vegetables.
