Garden Center at South Southington #6235

The Home Depot 4th of July Sale
Welcome the Fourth with a yard that's dressed to impress. Our huge 4th of July Sale can help you get it done. A gorgeous lawn that's growing lush and green, bright flowers flourishing in your gardens, and freshly sheared shrubs can make your great outdoors feel like home. It's time to enjoy the festivities with your family and friends. Take the time to make 4th of July memories — 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 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 proper tending, shade, and irrigation. You might also need ways to beat the heat. Let us help. At your Garden Center in South Southington, we've got what you need to make it through the hotter months with flying colors.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're concerned that your lawn has dried-out and brown blades of grass, don't worry. 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'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 you'll need to replace it with sod or grass seed. If the piece of grass doesn't come right out, it's dormant. That means it's resting but still growing beneath the surface. Dormant grass should be watered deeply once or twice a 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. Avoid overwatering, and allow the lawn to dry out after heavy rains before you get out the sprinkler or garden hose 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 drought. It's ok to let it grow a little 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 bushes, trees, and shrubs. They may need less watering than delicate flowers, but they can still get dry and parched in the summer heat. It's not hard to learn how to water trees and shrubs — just be sure to aim the water at the roots. It'll help grow strong leaves and flowers. If it's a fruiting tree, it'll also help give it enough moisture to put out blossoms and fruit and keep it from drying out.

Also, check for damaged areas on the bushes and trees. Pests can wreak havoc on your greenery if you don't catch them in time. Look for strange raised scars on the bark, spots on leaves or bark, or holes in leaves. When your leaves look like lace, caterpillars or insects are eating them. Spots may indicate a number of 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 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 and watch them climb. Support the stem itself, as well as the junctions just below where the branches grow off the stem. This is so the weight of the plant doesn't snap the branches or stem.

Fasten your plant to a trellis, pole, or tomato cage with string, 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. 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 have walking room in between plants or fit more of them.

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, 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 how far the roots extend outward, the full-grown size of the trees, and how deep the taproots go. Trees will always find the easiest source of water, so be sure to plant them away from the water lines so they won't be damaged by moisture-seeking roots. As majestic as trees are, it's important to also consider how and where they'd fall if disease or a severe storm 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 the leaves rustling in the breeze and dappled shade sooner rather than later.

Find Your Summertime Lawn Care Supplies Today
No matter if your perfect summer includes grilling, relaxing, gardening, or knocking out those 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 South Southington store.