Garden Center at Tehachapi #6835

As we stretch into the dog days of summer, your landscaping and garden will weather more sun and heat than earlier in the season. You'll want to consider how to keep things cool with proper tending, shade, and irrigation. Just like we can get sunburned, bulb flowers can dry out, grass can get scorched, and trees can lose their leaves prematurely. Let us help. At The Home Depot Tehachapi Garden Center, we've got what you need to make the most of summer.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're worried that your lawn has brown and crispy blades of grass, don't worry. It's possible that you've got a cool season grass that basically goes to sleep and turns brown in the blazing summer sun. If that's the case, it won't be a patchy brown, but brown everywhere. Gently pull out a blade of grass to check if it's still got live roots: If it comes right out, the grass is probably dead and will need to be replaced with new grass seed or sod. If the blade of grass doesn't pull right out, it's dormant. That means it's resting but still growing beneath the surface. Dormant grass should be watered deeply once or twice a week — if it doesn't rain — 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 each week. Make sure not to overwater, 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 the grass 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 Shrubs and Trees
When you're making sure your garden is watered, don't forget about the trees, and bushes. They may need less watering than delicate flowers, but they can still get dry and parched in the summer heat. It's not hard to learn how to water bushes and trees — just aim the water at the roots. It'll help prolong the greenery and blooms and keep it from drying out.

Also, check for damaged areas on the bushes and trees. Pests can wreak havoc on your greenery if you don't catch them in time. Look for strange raised scars on tree bark, spots on leaves or bark, or holes in leaves. When your leaves look like lace, insects or caterpillars are 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 end the life of your tree or shrub.

Grow Your Own Herbs
For fresh flavors to accent your homegrown produce, try herb gardening. 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 window sill, porch, or even in wall planters. Herbs also work well in a hydroponic garden, which means they don't grow in regular black dirt. Instead, they grow in a mix of rock chips, perlite, or sand.

Trees as Natural Shade
Trees are a stunning and natural source of shade, They can change the look of your yard. Whether you plant a few trees as accents, a few more to bear fruit, or a whole mini-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 deciduous trees, evergreen 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 roots extend outward, the full-grown size of the trees, and how deep the taproots go. Trees will always find the easiest source of water, so be sure to plant them away from your water pipes to avoid roots growing into them. A tree with a full canopy of leaves catches wind like a sail, so make sure it's planted a safe distance from your home. If you've planned accordingly, found trees you love, and know the perfect 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 Garden Supplies Today
No matter if your perfect summer includes relaxing, gardening, grilling, or starting 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 app anywhere you like, or in the aisles of your Tehachapi store.