Garden Center at Elgin #1934

The Home Depot 4th of July Sale
Welcome the Fourth with the yard of your dreams. Our big 4th of July Sale can help you do it. Let your great outdoors help you enjoy the festivities with your family and friends. Get that charcoal grill or patio furniture you've had your eye on and invite your guests to relax after indulging in holiday meats and treats. Save money now and use these staples of outdoor life for years of future cookouts.



As the calendar turns to summer, your landscaping and garden 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 and shade. Just like we can get sunburned, grass and flowers can get scorched, and trees can lose their leaves prematurely. We've got advice to help your garden, your lawn, and your family make it through the hotter months.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're concerned that your lawn has brown blades of grass, don't panic 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'll be an overall shade of brown, but not green with brown patches. See if the roots are alive by tugging on a blade of grass: If it comes right out, the grass is likely dead and you'll need to replace it. If the piece of grass doesn't pull right out, it's dormant. That means it's resting but still growing beneath the surface. Water dormant grass deeply once or twice every week, but avoid fertilizer.

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 per week. Avoid overwatering, and let the lawn dry out after heavy rains before you get out the garden hose or sprinkler again. Water your yard when the top two inches of soil is dry to the touch. You can test with your finger. This might happen quicker than you'd think during heat waves. It's ok to let it grow 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 shrubs, bushes, 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 bushes and trees — just aim the water at the roots. It'll help prolong the foliage and keep it from drying out.

Also, check for damaged areas on the trees and bushes. Pests can wreak havoc on your greenery if you don't catch them in time. Look for leaves full of holes, spots on bark or leaves, or strange raised scars on the bark. When your leaves look like lace, something is eating them. Spots may indicate several 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 a severe case may kill part or all of your tree.

Vertical Vegetable Gardening
For summer gardening, grow vegetables vertically to conserve space. Many vegetable plants are vines and well-suited to climb a fence or trellis, 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 stem or branches.

Fasten your plant to a trellis or pole with string, plant ties and wires, garden wire, or fabric strips. Be sure to attach each plant loosely. Then the leaves and branches can sway in the breeze and the stem has room to grow wider. Strawberry, watermelon, squash, cucumber, and tomato plants need support as they bear fruit. Melons and squash require hammocks made of stretchy fabric, string, old nylons, or a sling to support the weighty produce. 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 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, plan so you know 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 deep the taproots go, how far the root ball extends outward, and the full-grown size of the trees. Trees will always find the most accessible source of water, so be sure to plant them away from the water lines so they won't be damaged by moisture-seeking roots. 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 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 Supplies Today
No matter if your perfect summer includes grilling, gardening, relaxing, or finishing those outdoor DIY projects, we've got the supplies you need to keep your days flowing with ease. 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 app anywhere you like, or in the aisles of your Elgin store.