Garden Center at Bear Valley #1520

The Home Depot 4th of July Sale
Welcome Independence Day with a yard that's dressed to impress. Our huge 4th of July Sale can help you do it. We carry outdoor power equipment, including lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and string trimmers, to keep your trees and grass in shape. Another round of mulch or fertilizer might be just what your vegetable garden needs. Continue watering your plants regularly to enjoy a stunning summer garden — and maybe even run through the sprinkler yourself. With such a beautiful garden and yard, it's easy to create holiday memories to look back on.



As we stretch into summer, your garden and landscaping will weather more heat and sun than earlier in the year. That means you'll want to consider how to keep things cool with irrigation, shade, and proper tending. You might also need ways to beat the heat. Let us help. At the Garden Center in Bear Valley, we've got what you need to make the most of summer.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're worried that your lawn has crispy and brown blades of grass, don't worry just yet. It's possible that you've got a cool season grass that's going to go dormant and turn brown in the blazing summer sun. If that's the case, it won't be a patchy brown, but brown all over. See if the roots are alive by tugging on a blade of grass: If it comes right out, the grass is likely dead and will need to be replaced with new sod or grass seed. If it doesn't come right out, it's dormant. That means it's resting but still alive underground. Dormant grass should be watered deeply once or twice a week but don't fertilize it.

For warm-season grass that stays green in the summer, water a bit every few days and deeply once a week. The amount of water should add up to about an inch, more or less, each week. Make sure not to overwater, and allow the lawn to dry out after heavy rains before you get out the sprinkler or hose again. If it's especially hot out, water when the top two inches of soil is dry to the touch. It's ok to let it grow a little taller this time of the year, as cutting it too short isn't healthy for this kind of lawn.

Care for Your Trees and Shrubs
When you're making sure your garden is watered, don't forget about the trees and shrubs. They may need less watering than delicate flowers or vegetable plants, but they can still get parched and dry in the summer heat. It's not hard to learn how to water shrubs and trees — just make sure you aim the water at the roots. It'll help grow strong leaves and flowers. If it's a fruiting tree, it'll also help give it enough moisture to put out blossoms and fruit and keep it from turning yellow.

Also, check for damaged areas on the shrubs and trees. Pests can wreak havoc on your greenery if you don't catch them in time. Look for leaves full of holes, a network of raised lines on tree bark, or spots on leaves or bark. When your leaves look like lace, something is eating them. Spots may indicate many issues ranging from fungus to bugs. Those scar-like lines on tree bark could mean your tree is infected with borers, an insect that lays eggs inside the bark and then burrows out after it hatches. Any of these issues should be researched and cared for as soon as possible, as they may ultimately end the life of your bushes or trees.

Vertical Edible Gardening
If you like to grow your own food, take it vertical and consider growing organically. Many vegetable plants are vines and well-suited to climb a trellis or fence, so plant them next to one. The key to success is supporting the stem, fruit, and branches. This is so the weight of the plant doesn't snap the branches or stem.

Fasten the plant to a pole or trellis with twine, plant ties and wires, garden wire, or fabric strips. Be sure to tie each plant loosely. Then the leaves and branches can sway in the breeze and the stem has room to grow wider. Strawberry, canteloupe, squash, cucumber, and tomato plants need support as they bear fruit. Melons and squash require hammocks made of string, old nylons, a sling, or other stretchy fabric to support the weighty produce. All of these plants take up less space on the ground when grown vertically, which allows you to fit more plants or have walking room in between.

Vines as Decorative Shade
Plant vines near a trellis or arched arbor so they'll climb it and give you both beauty and shade. Go with viney plants that are native to your area to attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds. Grape vines are a classic choice, but they take time to mature, so you'll only be enjoying shade and not fruit for a few years. Remember to match your vine plants to how much sunshine you receive, as some like full sun and others don't. As a bonus, many vines put out sweet-smelling flowers with a delightful fragrance you can enjoy as you cool off in the shade.

Find Your Summertime Landscaping Supplies Today
No matter if your perfect summer includes relaxing, gardening, grilling, or finishing outdoor DIY projects, we've got the supplies you need to keep your days flowing with ease. Make the most of these early mornings and lengthy evenings to enjoy all the season has to offer. Shop online at your leisure, on our Home Depot mobile app anywhere you like, or in the aisles of your Bear Valley store.