Garden Center at Hyde Park #1039

Shop Our 4th of July Sale
Greet the Fourth with a yard that's dressed to impress. Our huge 4th of July Sale can help you do it. Let your great outdoors help you enjoy the festivities with your friends and family. That grill you've had your eye on can help you keep everyone fed. Set up new patio furniture to allow everyone to relax. Save money now and use these staples of outdoor life for years of future cookouts.



As we stretch into summer, your garden and landscaping will weather more heat and sun than earlier in the year. You'll need to consider how to keep things cool with irrigation, proper tending, and shade. You might also need ways to beat the heat. Let us help. At your Garden Center in Hyde Park, we've got what you need to make the most of summer.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're concerned that your lawn has crispy and brown blades of grass, don't panic just yet. 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 everywhere. 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 piece of grass doesn't come right out, it's dormant. That means it's resting but still alive beneath the surface. Dormant grass should be watered deeply once or twice a week but not fertilized.

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 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 the grass grow 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 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 trees — just be sure to aim the water at the roots. It'll help prolong the greenery and flowers 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, spots on leaves or bark, 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 all or part of your shrub.

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 stem, fruit, and branches. This is so the weight of the plant doesn't snap the branches or stem.

Fasten your plant to a tomato cage 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 this way, 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, 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, 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 roots extend outward, and the full-grown size of the trees you want. Plant your trees far from water pipes, as their strong roots will seek water and wend into piping to get it. As majestic as trees are, it's essential to also consider how and where they'd fall if disease or a major storm weakened them. If you've planned accordingly, found trees you love, and know the best 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 gardening, grilling, 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 mobile app anywhere you like, or in the aisles of your Hyde Park store.