Garden Center at Gig Harbor #4728

Shop Our 4th of July Sale
Greet the Fourth with the yard of your dreams. Our big 4th of July Sale can help you get it done. Tame lawns, trees, and hedges faster with new outdoor power equipment. Fertilizer and another round of mulch might be just what your vegetable garden needs. Continue watering regularly to enjoy a stunning summer garden. Take the time to make 4th of July memories. You may fondly remember this luxurious day of lounging on patio furniture for years.



As the calendar turns to summer, 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, proper tending, and irrigation. Just like we can get sunburned, trees can lose their leaves prematurely, grass can get scorched, and perennials can dry out. We've got advice to make it through the hotter months with flying colors.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're concerned that your lawn has straw-like blades of grass, don't worry 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 won't be a patchy brown, but brown everywhere. Give a grass blade a gentle tug to check if it's still got live roots: If it comes right out, the grass is likely dead and will need to be replaced with new sod or grass seed. If the blade of grass doesn't pull right out, it's dormant. That means it's growing and resting underground. 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, more or less, per week. Make sure not to overwater, and allow the lawn to dry out after heavy rains before you get out the sprinkler or garden 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 it grow a little taller this time of the year, as cutting your lawn too short isn't healthy for it.

Care for Your Trees and Shrubs
When you're making sure your garden is watered, don't forget about the shrubs, trees, and bushes. They may need less watering than vegetable plants or delicate flowers, but they can still get parched and dry 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 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, caterpillars or insects 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 a severe case may kill all or part of your trees or bushes.

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. The key to success is supporting the fruit, branches, and stem. This is so the weight of the plant doesn't snap the stem or branches.

Fasten your plant to a fence, pole, or trellis 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, 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. These plants take up less space on the ground when grown vertically, which allows you to have walking room in between plants or fit more of them.

Trees as Natural Shade
Trees are a 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. When they're healthy, trees live many decades — and some for hundreds of years. Before you shop, plan so you know 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 deep the taproots go, how far the root ball extends outward, and the full-grown size of the trees. Plant your trees far from water pipes, as their strong roots will seek water and curl into piping to get it. As majestic as trees are, it's important to also consider how and where they'd fall if disease or a significant storm weakened them. If you've planned accordingly, found trees you love, and know the ideal 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 Landscaping Supplies Today
No matter if your perfect summer includes relaxing, grilling, gardening, or finishing your 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 mobile app anywhere you like, or in the aisles of your Gig Harbor store.