From dirt to bug spray, seeds to shrubs, Triangle garden shops have your garden covered. 
by Sarah Hooper, Emily Clemente and Cady Smith

There’s no better time than now to acquaint yourself with your garden (especially if you’re picnicking in your backyard) with kids home, offices closed and vacations cancelled. Gardening can be a wonderful escape and a healthy hobby. With N.C having all four seasons (yes, even a hot summer) that means a wide variety of plant options. We’ve put together a list of local places where you can find plants, soil and more to create that thriving backyard oasis you’ve always dreamed of whether you’ve got a green thumb or are a budding gardener.

Where to buy plants and seeds:

What’s a garden without plants? If you’re starting a new project, try Campbell Road Nursery or Fairview Garden Center to find starter plants and materials to help kickstart your backyard garden. Looking for different kinds of selections? Juniper Level Botanic Garden is hosting one more Open Garden and Nursery weekend this summer for visitors to view exotic plants and trees and shrubs found only in this part of the world from July 17 through the 19. Located within the Juniper Level Botanic Garden, Plant Delights is your source for buying native, rare, and unique perennials.

Atlantic Gardening has both a nursery and a greenhouse filled with tropical plants, house plants, air plants and orchids if you’re looking for a gardening challenge. For a more immersive shopping experience, visit Logan’s Garden Shop. Located in downtown in historic Seaboard Station, their nursery features an outdoor area, a cafe and a variety of seeds from NC-based seed company Wyatt-Quarles and Southern Exposure Seed Exchange.

Where to buy gardening soil and landscaping materials

A good garden starts with good soil. Good Dirt offers both indoor and outdoor potting mix, as well as soil conditioner in order to keep your garden healthy and nutrient-rich. Family Home and Garden has a wide variety of grass seed, fertilizer, garden tools, mulches and more, with two locations in the Triangle. Or consider Eco Pro Mulch for mulch, soil and compost supplies. They offer delivery and installation services for your do-it-yourself garden projects.

Fifth Season Gardening Co. offers a selection of both hydroponic and organic gardening supplies. For an added bonus, while you’re there, you can also pick up beer and wine making products, supplies for cheese making, vinegar making, canning and fermentation.

Where to buy gardening apparel and accessories

Great Outdoor Provision Company, a North Carolina based company with multiple locations in the triangle, has everything from backpacks to reusable water bottles and outdoor shoes for the entire family, you’ll be ready to venture into the backyard and feel comfortable and stylish doing so. Find a whole selection of gardening accessories and supplies, including watering wands and cans, pruning tools and gloves at Homewood Nursery and Garden Center for all of your gardening apparel needs (loads of plants too!). Fuquay-Varina’s The Garden Hut features the essentials for gardening outside like gardening gloves, aprons and straw hats to shield your face from the sun. 

Where to buy insect repellent and sunscreen

Gardening outside means you have to be careful of those pesky bugs and brutal heat. Consider these local places where you can find all of the sprays and repellents you need to fend off forces of nature. Murphy’s Naturals is a Raleigh company which specializes in natural mosquito repellent. Their line of products includes spray repellent, outdoor candles, incense sticks and now features hand sanitizer.

If you’re looking for a larger solution to keep summer bug bites at bay, Organic Mosquito Control by Carolina Organic Lawns offers an all-natural mosquito killer and repellent, offering a safe solution that won’t harm children, pets or bees. Don’t forget sun-protection. Beauty Ethics is an eco-friendly Raleigh based beauty store that offers an array of SPF products on their website for all of your sun protection needs. Glo de Vie is another local spa based in North Hills that offers a tinted SPF moisturizer.

Where to buy garden décor 

Market Imports at the NC State Farmers Market offers all kinds of decorations: everything from fountains and glazed pottery to wrought iron, statuary, and folk art. Or for something upcycled, Cheshire Cat Antiques offers reimagined furniture to give your garden the perfect combination of that vintage and modern touch.

If you’re looking to skip the trip and have garden decor delivered directly to your door instead, The Blushing Peach Shop offers wooden signs and planters that are handmade and hand-decorated. Choose from their seasonal or farmhouse options to add a rustic touch to your backyard. To give your garden a bit of personality, Tina Granville Studio offers eclectic outdoor tree decorations that provide your trunk with a Picasso-style expression, as well as homemade pottery. Looking to bring a bit of garden indoors? Tracey Gurley Art creates unique floral paintings so that you can have gardenias, lilies and watercolor geraniums decorating your walls.

Where to find gardening and landscape services

Making your home garden an oasis does not have to be a one-person project. Consider hiring a service to handle the larger landscaping jobs. Gardens of the Carolinas provides full service landscaping solutions, including landscape design, tree installation and removal, sodding and outdoor lighting. Take advantage of the in-house landscape design team at For Garden’s Sake to build your dream backyard. Their lawn and landscape facility also features a garden center so you can get inspiration for trees, shrubs and perennial plants.

Looking for a local nursery that provides landscaping and gardening services? Norwood Road Garden Center is the perfect go-to for all of your locally-grown, self-sustaining gardening needs. They are also active participants in the N.C. Green Industry Council and work to make the Triangle a greener and healthier place to live. With services like outdoor lighting, residential landscaping and landscape design and installation, Lassiter Mill Gardens is a highly qualified landscape and garden service company.

And for some garden wisdom and inspiration from our archives:

A Secret Garden Blooms in Raleigh

A French Inspired Hidden Escape

Homewood Garden & Nursery Center

In the Garden with Helen Yoest

Explore this North Raleigh Garden