Tampa Bay’s Premium Garden Center
Native Plants and Everything You Need to Grow Beautifully
Tampa Bay homeowners are passionate about their outdoor spaces, and we’re right there with you. That’s why we’ve expanded beyond premium turf to now include a full-fledged Garden Center located right at our office. Whether you’re refreshing your flower beds, starting a backyard vegetable garden, or finally adding those shade trees you’ve been thinking about, our new Garden Center is designed to bring fresh life to your landscape.
Our team has always believed that Florida yards should be beautiful, functional, and full of native charm. With our new Garden Center, we’re making it easier than ever for homeowners and small landscapers to access high-quality plants, trees, and gardening essentials right here in Hillsborough County. We’re excited to open our gates to the local community, and we’re just getting started.
Come visit us at our new garden center located at 3226 24th St SE, Ruskin, FL. today!
Turning Your Yard into More Than a Lawn
Our customers have always trusted us for Florida-friendly sod varieties like St. Augustine, Zoysia, Bahia, and our crowd-favorite perennial peanut groundcover. Over the years, we’ve had more and more homeowners and green-industry professionals ask for additional landscaping solutions beyond turf, and we listened. By opening our Garden Center, we’re creating a space where customers can conveniently purchase:
- Florida native plants that support pollinators and wildlife
- Beautiful annuals and perennials for year-round color
- Fruit trees and herbs for edible landscapes
- Vegetables to support homegrown living
- Shrubs and shade trees for structure and privacy
- Succulents and easy-care plants for low-maintenance beauty
We’re combining the personal touch of a family-run business with the expert relationships we’ve built with top local growers and nurseries. If we don’t have what you’re looking for in stock, we’ll do our best to bring it in.
Built for Homeowners and Local Trades
We built this Garden Center with two audiences in mind. First, Tampa Bay homeowners who want quality plants for their yards without the hassle of big box stores. Second, small landscape companies who need fast access to reliable landscaping staples. Homeowners will love the convenience of shopping where quality and guidance come standard.
Our staff is here to help answer questions, offer suggestions, and guide plant selections that work well with your sod. For small green-industry pros, we offer strong relationships with local growers and the flexibility to place custom orders when needed. We’re not trying to be the biggest. We’re focused on being a dependable, local resource for everything that grows.
A Garden Center That Grows With You
Located at our location in southern Hillsborough County, our Garden Center is easy to access from anywhere in the Tampa Bay region. If you’ve ever picked up sod from us, you’ll now notice a whole lot more color and life around the property. Our inventory is evolving, with a full retail rollout scheduled for early November. Until then, we’re already beginning to stock small quantities of staple plants and trees that you can browse and purchase in person.
What Makes Us Different
Our Garden Center stands apart because of how intentionally we’ve built it. Here’s how we’re different:
- Native-First Approach: We focus on plants that thrive in Florida’s climate, help with soil retention, and support local wildlife.
- Hand-Selected Inventory: Each plant and tree we stock is chosen for its value to homeowners and small trades.
- Edibles and Fruit Trees: From citrus to herbs, our offerings make growing your own food more accessible.
- Special Requests Welcome: If we don’t have something, we’ll try to get it for you from our nursery partners.
Helping Your Yard Thrive from the Roots Up
A healthy Florida yard is about more than just grass. Plants and trees bring color, structure, and life to your outdoor space, and we’re here to help you pair them together. Whether you’re adding groundcover to your sod or creating a border with shrubs and perennials, our team will help you make it all work. We’re here to guide you on what works best with your property, your goals, and the timing of the season.
The Right Timing Makes All the Difference
Not every plant likes to go in the ground at the same time. Here’s how we help guide your planting:
- Spring and fall are best for trees, shrubs, and larger perennials so they can establish roots.
- Warm-weather months are ideal for vegetables and fast-growing herbs.
- Native plants often do best when planted during Florida’s drier seasons so they develop strong root systems.
- Watering schedules matter. We’ll provide you with practical timelines to help your plants succeed.
You don’t need to be a master gardener to get results. We’ll give you clear advice and real answers to help you build a landscape you love.
Locally Grown, Locally Trusted
We know what grows in Florida because we grow it too. From our sod fields to our garden displays, we work with the land and climate every single day. Our new Garden Center is a natural extension of that expertise, giving Tampa Bay homeowners a trusted place to find healthy plants, real guidance, and region-specific support. We’re not building this to be trendy or temporary. We’re building it to last, grow, and serve the community for years to come.
A Fresh Take on Garden Shopping
Most people don’t want to walk into a garden center with 200 confusing options and zero guidance. They want to find healthy plants, solid advice, and fair pricing. That’s what we’re offering. Whether you’re starting small with a few herbs or reimagining your entire landscape, you’ll find what you need to get growing. We invite you to stop by, walk around, ask questions, and see what’s new. The plants will change, the inventory will evolve, but the goal will stay the same: helping your yard thrive.
Common Questions Asked
Where is the Garden Center located?
The Garden Center is located at our Council Growers Sod office in southern Hillsborough County at 3226 24th St SE, Ruskin, FL. It’s easily accessible from anywhere in the greater Tampa Bay area and is the same spot where customers have been picking up sod for years.
What kinds of plants and trees do you carry?
Our inventory is evolving, but we are focused on stocking staple plants and trees including Florida natives, annuals, perennials, shrubs, fruit trees, herbs, and vegetables. We’re also happy to source specific items upon request through our network of local growers.
Is this Garden Center open to everyone or just professionals?
Our Garden Center is absolutely open to the public. Homeowners, hobbyists, and local residents are all welcome. We also serve small landscape businesses who need quality plants quickly and efficiently.
Do you have a full plant list I can browse?
Not yet. Because our offerings are evolving and seasonal, we’re keeping the selection flexible. We aim to offer over 100 plant and tree varieties as we continue to build our inventory.
Can I get planting advice at the Garden Center?
Yes. Our team is here to help you choose the right plants for your space and guide you through how and when to plant them. From sunlight requirements to watering schedules, we’re here to help you get it right.
How are you different from big chain garden centers?
We focus on quality over quantity. Our plants are hand-selected and chosen for our specific region. We offer real, local guidance, not one-size-fits-all solutions.
What if I need something you don’t carry?
We’ve built strong relationships with local nurseries and growers. If you need something we don’t currently stock, we can often bring it in for you. Just let us know what you’re looking for.
Do Florida native plants need less maintenance?
Yes. Native plants are adapted to the local climate and usually require less water, fertilizer, and attention than non-native species. They’re a great choice for sustainable landscapes.
Can I mix turf, trees, and plants together?
Definitely. In fact, a well-balanced landscape includes all of the above. We help customers pair sod with shrubs, trees, and perennials to create a cohesive, healthy, and attractive yard.
Are fruit trees hard to grow in Tampa Bay?
Not at all. With the right care and timing, many fruit trees thrive here. We’ll guide you on how to plant and care for them to ensure a productive harvest.
Come Grow With Us
If you’re ready to refresh your yard or simply add a few new plants to your garden, stop by Council Growers Sod’s Garden Center. We’re more than a sod provider, we’re your neighbor, your growing partner, and your go-to source for native plants, healthy trees, and expert advice. Come see what’s blooming, get directions here, ask your questions, and grow something great with us this season. Your backyard deserves it.