Garden Center at Farmingdale #1267

Shop Our 4th of July Sale
Bring on Independence Day with a yard that's dressed to impress. Our huge 4th of July Sale can help you do it. Bright blooms flourishing in your gardens, a beautiful lawn that's growing green, and freshly trimmed hedges can make your great outdoors feel like home. It's time to enjoy the festivities with your friends and family. 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 we stretch into summer, your garden and landscaping 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, shade, and proper tending. You might also need ways to beat the heat. We've got guidance to make it through the hotter months.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're concerned that your lawn has brown and dry 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 summertime heat. If that's the case, it'll be brown, but not in patches. See if the roots are alive by tugging on a blade of grass: If it comes right out, the grass is probably dead and you'll need to replace it. If it doesn't come right out, it's dormant. That means it's resting but still alive underground. Water dormant grass deeply once or twice every week, but don't fertilize it.

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 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 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 bushes. They may need less watering than delicate flowers or vegetable plants, but they can still get dry and parched in the summer heat. It's not hard to learn how to water shrubs and trees — just be sure to 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 trees, bushes, and shrubs. Pests can wreak havoc on your greenery if you don't catch them in time. Look for holes in leaves, a network of raised lines on the bark, or spots on bark or leaves. When your leaves look like lace, something is 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 tree.

Vertical Edible Gardening
Grow produce vertically to conserve space. Many vegetable plants are vines and well-suited to climb a trellis or fence, so plant them next to one and watch them climb. The key to success is supporting the stem, fruit, and branches. This is so the weight of the plant doesn't snap the branches or stem.

Fasten the plant to a trellis or pole with string, plant ties and wires, garden wire, or fabric strips. Be sure to tie each plant loosely. Then the branches and leaves can sway in the breeze and the stem has room to grow wider. Strawberry, cantaloupe, 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 heavy produce. 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 a 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. When they're healthy, trees live many decades — and some for hundreds of years. Before you shop, read up on 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 root ball extends outward, the full-grown size of the trees, 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. Leave a safe distance from your home, as large trees can catch the wind if not properly pruned. 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 gardening, relaxing, grilling, or starting 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 app anywhere you like, or in the aisles of your Farmingdale store.