Garden Center at Santa Fe, NM #3503

The Home Depot 4th of July Sale
Greet the Fourth with the yard of your dreams. Our huge 4th of July Sale can help you get it done. A beautiful lawn that's growing full and lush, freshly trimmed hedges, and cheerful flowers punctuating your gardens can make your great outdoors feel like home. It's time to enjoy the festivities with your family and friends. With a yard like this, it's easy to create holiday memories to look back on — whether it's a day-long feast of food cooked up just right on a new grill or a luxurious day of lounging on patio furniture.



As we stretch into summer, your garden and landscaping will weather more sun and heat than earlier in the season. That means you'll need to consider how to keep things cool with shade, proper tending, and irrigation. You might also need ways to beat the heat. 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 worried 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's going to go dormant and turn brown in the heat of the summer. 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 likely dead and will need to be replaced with new sod or grass seed. If it doesn't come right out, it's dormant. That means it's growing and resting beneath the surface. Dormant grass should be watered deeply once or twice a week — if it doesn't rain — 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. Avoid overwatering, and let the lawn dry out after heavy rains before you get out the hose or sprinkler again. Water your lawn 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 drought or extreme hot spells. 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 Shrubs and Trees
When you're making sure your garden is watered, don't forget about the trees and shrubs. 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 bushes and trees — just aim the water at the roots. It'll help prolong the greenery and keep it from turning brown or yellow.

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 leaves full of holes, strange raised scars on the bark, or spots on leaves or bark. When your leaves look like lace, something is eating them. Spots may indicate many 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 they may end the life of your tree or shrub.

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

Fasten the plant to a trellis, pole, or tomato cage with twine, 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 branches and leaves can sway in the breeze. Strawberries, tomatoes, squash, pumpkins and cucumbers need support as they bear fruit. Squash and melons 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 have walking room in between plants or fit even more of them.

Trees as Natural Shade
Trees are a stunning and 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, keep in mind 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.

Although trees framing a house may look picturesque, you should research the specifics of those trees before you plant them. Consider the full-grown size of the trees you want, how far the roots extend outward and how deep the taproots go. Plant your trees far from underground plumbing, as their strong roots will seek water and curl into piping to get it. As majestic as trees are, it's essential to also consider how and where they'd fall if a major storm or disease weakened them. If you've planned accordingly, found trees you love, and know the perfect 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 knocking out 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 Santa Fe, NM store.