4.8(156)
Garden center offering plant food, soil, lighting & other supplies for hydroponic & organic growing.
IndependentZone 8b
Garden centers in Arlington, Texas
Arlington sits on heavy Blackland Prairie clay, and the local garden trade has organized itself around that fact. Twelve shops serve the city, split seven independent to five chain, a healthier ratio than many DFW suburbs manage. The Gardens Texas carries a perfect 5.0 rating, Abundant Harvest Hydroponics & Organics runs close behind at 4.8 across more than 150 reviews, and A & M Nursery & Supplies rounds out the leaders at 4.7.
The climate gives you roughly nine months of growing time. Winter lows typically bottom out between 15 and 20 degrees, the last frost clears by early-to-mid March, and the first fall freeze usually holds off until late November. The catch is the soil: black clay that swells when wet, cracks when dry, and drains slowly enough to rot roots in a soggy spring. Local nurseries stock expanded shale and compost by the pallet for a reason.
- 12
- garden centers
- 7
- independent
- 4.3 ★
- average rating
- Zone 8b
- USDA zone
All 12 garden centers in Arlington
Sorted by rating and review volume · 12 open on Sundays
4.7(135)
Landscaper and nursery specializing in tree-planting, irrigation and hardscape work.
IndependentZone 8b
4.6(740)
Farmer's market & garden center offering locally grown produce, homemade jellies, plants & more.
IndependentZone 8b
4.6(254)
Supplier of indoor & outdoor plants, plus bird feed, fertilizers, pots & weed control products.
Regional chainZone 8b
4.5(207)
Supplier of indoor & outdoor plants, plus bird feed, fertilizers, pots & weed control products.
Regional chainZone 8b
4.5(164)
Retailer for plant enthusiasts, with a specialty in native flowers, bushes, grasses and trees.
IndependentZone 8b
4.6(19)
Garden center in Arlington, Texas, 915 E Randol Mill Rd.
National chainZone 8b
4.4(74)
Friendly, low-key, long-running nursery featuring flowers, herbs, veggie plants and fruit plants.
IndependentZone 8b
4.4(40)
Garden center in Arlington, Texas, 201 W Road to Six Flags St.
National chainZone 8b
4.2(36)
Garden center in Arlington, Texas, 801 Highlander Blvd.
National chainZone 8b
Planting in Arlington: zone 8b quick guide
Central Texas offers a very long growing season, but summer heat, not winter cold, is the main limit. Plant early so crops mature before July, then replant for a strong fall garden. Typical growing season: ~260 days, from the last frost in early to mid March to the first freeze around late November.
Heat-proof, clay-tolerant plants earn their keep here. Crape myrtle, desert willow, vitex, and cedar elm handle the alkaline soil without yellowing, while Texas sage, autumn sage, lantana, and rock rose bloom through triple-digit stretches on minimal water. For vegetables, run two short seasons rather than one long one: tomatoes and peppers go in by late March to beat the June heat, then again in late July for a fall crop that often outproduces spring. Bermuda and zoysia are the lawn grasses that survive full sun, and St. Augustine only makes sense in shade. Skip azaleas and blueberries, the alkaline clay fights them constantly.
July
Plant now
Fall tomato transplants, Pumpkins for Halloween
Garden tasks
Survive: water deeply, mulch, harvest
August
Plant now
Fall tomatoes & peppers (early), Beans (mid), Squash
Garden tasks
Fall garden is Central Texas's best season, plant it
September
Plant now
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower transplants, Lettuce, Spinach (late)
Garden tasks
Plant wildflower seed for spring
Local gardening tips for Arlington
- Work three inches of compost and expanded shale into new beds, straight Blackland clay suffocates roots and sheds water once it dries into a crust.
- Water lawns deeply but no more than twice weekly in summer; many area cities run seasonal watering schedules, so check current rules before setting the sprinkler timer.
- Plant trees and shrubs in October or November, not spring, fall roots establish through winter and handle their first Texas summer far better.
- Ask for heat-setting tomato varieties bred for Texas; standard beefsteaks quit producing once June nights stay warm.
- Mulch beds four inches deep before July, bare clay bakes into a hardpan that repels irrigation water instead of absorbing it.
Arlington garden center FAQs
›What should I add to Arlington's clay soil before planting?
Compost and expanded shale are the two amendments worth buying. Work them eight inches deep into new beds to open up the clay's structure and improve drainage. Skip sand, mixed into clay it sets up like mortar. For vegetables, many Arlington gardeners give up on amending altogether and build raised beds filled with a purchased soil blend, which sidesteps the drainage problem entirely.
›Which lawn grass handles Arlington summers best?
Bermuda is the workhorse for full sun, it shrugs off heat, drought, and foot traffic, though it invades flower beds. Zoysia costs more up front but tolerates light shade and looks better with less mowing. St. Augustine needs more water than the other two and struggles in full western sun, so reserve it for lawns with real tree cover.
›Do I need to protect plants from winter freezes here?
Most winters are mild, but arctic fronts occasionally drop temperatures into the teens, and those events kill unprotected tropicals and marginal plants fast. Keep frost cloth on hand from November through mid-March, water everything deeply the day before a hard freeze, and mulch the root zones of tender perennials. Palms, potted citrus, and new plantings need the most attention.
›Is a hydroponics shop useful for a regular backyard gardener?
Even if you never run a hydro system, specialty shops carry things big boxes rarely do: quality organic fertilizers, beneficial microbe inoculants, seed-starting supplies, and staff who understand plant nutrition. Arlington's clay-soil and heat problems often come down to feeding and root health, and hydroponics retailers deal in exactly that. Their soil-growing sections are usually better stocked than a general nursery's.
›How many garden centers are there in Arlington, TX?
Our directory currently lists 12 garden centers and plant nurseries in Arlington, Texas, 7 independent and 5 chain locations.
›What is the best-rated garden center in Arlington?
Abundant Harvest Hydroponics & Organics is currently the top-rated garden center in Arlington, with a 4.8-star average across 156 Google reviews.
›What USDA hardiness zone is Arlington, TX?
Arlington is in USDA hardiness zone 8b (average annual minimum temperature 15 to 20°F). The last spring frost typically falls in early to mid March, and the first fall frost arrives around late November.
›When should I start planting in Arlington?
In zone 8b, set out warm-season vegetables and annuals after the last frost in early to mid March. Cool-season crops go in earlier, and fall planting (September to November) is excellent in Arlington for trees, shrubs, and perennials.
Garden centers near Arlington
- Grand Prairie (6 mi)
- Euless (9 mi)
- Bedford (9 mi)
- Mansfield (10 mi)
- Hurst (10 mi)
- North Richland Hills (11 mi)
- Haltom City (11 mi)
- Richland Hills (11 mi)