Garden Center at Beaumont, CA #8987

As we stretch into the dog days of summer, your garden and landscaping will weather more intense heat and UV rays than earlier in the season. That means you'll want to consider how to keep things cool with shade, proper tending, and irrigation. You might also need ways to beat the heat. Let us help. At your Garden Center in Beaumont, CA, we've got what you need to make it through the hotter months.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're concerned that your lawn has dried out blades of grass, don't worry. It's possible that you've got a cool season grass that goes to sleep and turns brown in the heat of the summer. If that's the case, it won't be a patchy brown, but brown everywhere. Gently tug out a blade of grass to check the roots: If it comes right out, the grass is likely dead and will need to be replaced with new sod or grass seed. If the piece of grass doesn't come right out, it's dormant. That means it's growing and resting beneath the surface. Water dormant grass deeply once or twice each week, but avoid fertilizer.

Warm-season grass stays green in the summer. If you have this kind of lawn, water it deeply once a week. Give it another drink every day or two, depending on your weather. Avoid overwatering, and let the lawn dry out after heavy rains before you get out the garden hose or sprinkler 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 shrubs and trees. They may need less watering than vegetable plants, but they can still get dry and parched in the summer heat. It's not hard to learn how to water trees and shrubs — just be sure to 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 trees, bushes, and shrubs. Pests can wreak havoc on your greenery if you don't catch them in time. Look for holes in leaves, spots on bark or leaves, or a network of raised lines on the bark. When your leaves look like lace, caterpillars or insects are eating them. Spots may indicate many issues ranging from bugs to fungus. 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 a severe case may kill all or part of your trees or bushes.

Grow Your Own Herbs
For fresh flavors to accent your homegrown produce, add herbs. They're generally low-maintenance. It's easy to learn how to grow herbs indoors, but you can raise herbs outdoors, too. If you grow herbs outdoors, stick to heat-loving herbs that'll endure the summer temperatures, and consider a hanging herb garden.

It can be tricky to plant herbs in the ground, as many of them — especially mint — are invasive and will take over your yard. So grow them in small decorative pots on a sunny porch, window sill, or even as a beautiful hanging garden on a wall. Herbs also work well in a hydroponic garden, which means they don't grow in regular black dirt. Instead, they grow in a mixture of sand, perlite, or rock chips.

Trees as Natural Shade
Trees are the ultimate natural source of shade, and they can change the look of your yard. Whether you plant a few trees or a forest, remember this is a long-term commitment. Trees live many decades when they're healthy. Before you shop, look into how to plant a tree, whether they're evergreens, deciduous tree saplings, or more mature trees.

A house framed by beautiful trees can seem picture-perfect, but research the specific trees you want before planting them. Think about how far the root ball extends outward, the full-grown size of the trees you want, and how deep the taproots go. Plant your trees far from water pipes, as their strong roots will seek water and wend into piping to get it. As majestic as trees are, it's important to also consider how and where they'd fall if a significant storm or disease weakened them. If you've planned accordingly, found trees you love, and know the ideal places to put them, get planting. That way, you can enjoy natural shade and the soothing sound of leaves rustling in the breeze sooner rather than later.

Find Your Summertime Lawn Care Supplies Today
No matter if your perfect summer includes relaxing, grilling, gardening, or knocking out outdoor DIY projects, we've got you covered. 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 mobile app anywhere you like, or in the aisles of your Beaumont, CA store.