Garden Center at Bellport #8958

The Home Depot 4th of July Sale
Bring on the 4th of July with the yard of your dreams. Our big 4th of July Sale can help you get it done. Cheerful blooms punctuating your gardens, a gorgeous lawn that's growing full and lush, and freshly pruned bushes can make your great outdoors feel like home. It's time to enjoy the festivities with your family and friends. With a yard like this, it's easy to create holiday memories to look back on — whether it's a luxurious day of lounging on patio furniture or a day-long feast of food cooked up just right on a new grill.



As summer rolls in, your landscaping and garden will weather more sun and heat than earlier in the year. That means you'll need to consider how to keep things cool with shade and irrigation. You might also need ways to beat the heat. Let us help. At your Garden Center in Bellport, we've got what you need to make it through the hotter months with flying colors.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're concerned that your lawn has dried-out and brown blades of grass, don't worry just yet. It's possible that you've got a cool season grass that goes dormant and turns brown in the summertime heat. If that's the case, it'll be brown overall instead of in patches. Gently tug out a blade of grass to check the roots: If it comes right out, the grass is likely dead and you'll need to replace it. If the blade of grass doesn't pull right out, it's dormant. That means it's resting but still growing 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 each week. Avoid overwatering, and let the lawn 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 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 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 trees and shrubs — just be sure to 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 trees, bushes, and shrubs. 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 the bark, or spots on leaves or bark. When your leaves look like lace, insects or caterpillars are eating them. Spots may indicate several 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 they may 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 and watch them climb. Support the stem itself, as well as the junctions right below where the branches grow off the stem. This is so the weight of the plant doesn't snap the branches or stem.

Fasten your plant to a pole or tomato cage with string, plant ties and wires, garden wire, or fabric strips. Be sure to tie each plant loosely. Then the stem has room to grow wider and the branches and leaves can sway in the breeze. Strawberry, pumpkin, 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 heavy produce. All of these plants take up less space on the ground when grown vertically, which allows you to fit even more plants or have walking room in between.

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 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, read up on how to plant a tree, whether they're evergreens, deciduous tree saplings, or more mature trees.

Although trees framing a house may look picturesque, you should research the specifics of those trees before you plant 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 curl into piping to get it. 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 grilling, gardening, relaxing, 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 Bellport store.