Garden Center at Corsicana #6817

Celebrate Summertime Gardening
As we continue deeper into summer, your garden and landscaping will weather more heat and sun than earlier in the year. That means you'll need to consider how to keep things cool with irrigation, shade, and proper tending. Just like we can get sunburned, plants can dry out, grass can get scorched, and trees can lose their leaves early. We've got advice to help you, your lawn, and your garden sail through the hotter months with flying colors.

Grow a Healthy Lawn
If you're worried that your lawn has brown and crispy blades of grass, don't panic. It's possible that you've got a cool-season grass that goes to sleep and turns brown in the summertime heat. If that's the case, it'll be brown overall instead of 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 grass seed or sod. If it doesn't pull right out, it's dormant. That means it's growing and resting under the ground. 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. Don't overwater, and let the lawn dry out after substantial rains before you get out the sprinkler or hose 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 extreme hot spells. 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 ensuring your garden is watered, don't forget about the shrubs and trees. They may need less watering than delicate flowers or vegetable plants, but they can still dry out in the hot sun. It's easy to learn how to water trees and bushes — just make sure you aim the water at the roots. It'll help prolong the greenery and prevent it from turning yellow or brown. Also, check for damaged areas on your trees and shrubs. Pests can wreak havoc on your greenery if you don't catch them in time.

Look for holes in leaves, spots on bark or leaves, or a network of raised lines on the bark that look like artistic decoration. When your leaves look like lace, something is eating them. Spots may indicate a number of issues ranging from fungus to bugs. Those scar-like lines on tree bark could mean your tree is infected with borers, which are insects that lay eggs inside the bark and then burrow out after they hatch. Research and care for any of these issues as soon as possible, as a severe case may kill all or part of your tree or shrub.

Grow Your Own Herbs
Get fresh flavors to accent garden-fresh vegetables when you add herbs. They're generally low-maintenance. It's easy to learn how to grow herbs indoors, but you can raise them outside, too. If you grow herbs outdoors, stick to heat-loving herbs that'll endure the summer temperatures, and consider a hanging herb garden. Read our herb gardening guide for beginners for more info.

Planting herbs in the ground can be tricky, as many of them — especially mint — are invasive and will take over your lawn. To avoid a yard full of mint or other herbs, keep them in small plant pots on a sunny window sill, porch, or even in wall planters. Herbs also work as a hydroponic garden, which doesn't use soil. Instead, they grow in a mixture of rock chips, perlite, or sand.

Trees as Natural Shade
Trees are the ultimate natural source of shade, and they can change the appearance of your yard. Whether you plant an accent tree or a small 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, plan so you know how to plant a tree — whether they're deciduous tree saplings, evergreens, or more mature trees.

A house framed by beautiful trees can seem picture-perfect, but research the specific trees you want before planting them. Consider how deep the taproots go, the full-grown size of the trees you want, and how far the root ball extends outward. Plant your trees far from plumbing pipes, as their strong roots will seek water and creep into piping to get it. As majestic as trees are, it's important to also consider how and where they'd fall if a major storm or disease weakened them.

If you've diligently planned, 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 Supplies Today
No matter if your perfect summer includes gardening, grilling, relaxing, or starting those outdoor DIY projects, we've got everything to keep your days flowing with ease. Make the most of these long evenings and early mornings to enjoy all the season has to offer. Shop online, on our app anywhere you like, or in the aisles of your Corsicana nursery.