Garden Center at Cape May #943

The Home Depot 4th of July Sale
Bring on the Fourth with the yard of your dreams. Our big 4th of July Sale can help you get it done. A beautiful lawn that's growing full and lush, bright blooms punctuating your gardens, and freshly shaped hedges can make your great outdoors feel like home. It's time to enjoy the festivities with your family and friends. Take the time to make 4th of July memories — whether it's a day-long feast of food cooked up just right on a new charcoal grill or a luxurious day of lounging on patio furniture.



As summer rolls in, your garden and landscaping will weather more heat and sun than earlier in the season. That means you'll need to consider how to keep things cool with proper tending, shade, and irrigation. Just like we can get sunburned, flowers can dry out and trees can lose their leaves prematurely. Let us help. At the Garden Center in Cape May, we've got what you need to make it through the hotter months.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're worried that your lawn has brown blades of grass, don't panic. It's possible that you've got a cool season grass that goes dormant and turns brown in the heat of the summer. If that's the case, it won't be a patchy brown, but brown all over. 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 with sod or grass seed. If it 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. Be careful 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 the grass grow taller this time of the year, as cutting your lawn too short isn't healthy for it.

Care for Your Shrubs and Trees
When you're making sure your garden is watered, don't forget about the trees, shrubs, and bushes. They may need less watering than vegetable plants or delicate flowers, but they can still get dry and parched in the summer heat. It's not hard to learn how to water trees and bushes — just make sure you aim the water at the roots. It'll help prolong the greenery and keep it from drying out.

Also, check for damaged areas on the bushes, trees, and shrubs. Pests can wreak havoc on your greenery if you don't catch them in time. Look for spots on leaves or bark, strange raised scars on tree bark, or leaves full of holes. 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 they may ultimately end the life of your tree or shrub.

Vertical Vegetable Gardening
Grow produce vertically for a smart use of space. Many vegetable plants are vines and well-suited to climb a trellis or fence, so plant them next to one. 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 stem or branches.

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 leaves and branches can sway in the breeze. Strawberries, pumpkins, squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes need support as they bear fruit. Melons and squash require hammocks made of stretchy fabric, string, old nylons, or a sling to support the heavy produce. All of these plants take up less space on the ground this way, which allows you to fit more plants or have walking room in between.

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 or a 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 deciduous trees, evergreen saplings, or more mature trees.

A backyard woodland can be the stuff of dreams, but research what you're planting beforehand. Consider how far the root ball extends 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 the leaves rustling in the breeze and dappled shade sooner rather than later.

Find Your Summertime Lawn Care Supplies Today
No matter if your perfect summer includes gardening, grilling, relaxing, or knocking out those outdoor DIY projects, we've got you covered. Make the most of these lengthy evenings and early mornings 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 Cape May store.