7 Home & Garden Summer Gems You Should Be Stocking Up On At Your Local Dollar Tree

Summer should be full of outdoor activities, fun events, and colorful decor, but in many cases, embracing the season also requires quite the monetary investment. As a professional gardener, affordable garden supplies are always a priority, but in the current economy, many of us are looking for bargains. Dollar Tree is one of my favorite places for items that not only lift up summer celebrations, but also come in handy for everyday uses. Check out some of these home and garden picks to make summer fun accessible and affordable, from cute decorations to outdoor essentials.

Everyone from apartment dwellers looking to embrace a bit of summer charm to homeowners upgrading their backyard for the season can find a big variety of fun and useful items at this popular discount store. Whether you're doing fun crafts like making fairy gardens with Dollar Tree supplies, hosting outdoor events, or simply enjoying the balmy weather, there's something for just about everyone. Dollar Tree was, for a long time, the only "dollar store" left where everything was actually a dollar, but even now, so many of these summer items only cost $1.50, making them a much more affordable alternative than the offerings at most popular big-box stores. If you're trying to save money these days, let Dollar Tree make your summer a bit less stressful.

Perfect for hanging by your patio, at your beach condo, or from the door of your camper, these fun, $1.50 signs are colorful reminders of summer's delights. I saw a large variety of hanging signs with flamingos, parrots, summer fruits, vintage campers, flowers, beach balls, and other motifs conjuring summer enjoyment. At such a low price, they're a great way to affordably upgrade your space for the season.

Dollar Tree is always a good bet for colorful party supplies. Its summer-themed selection this season is fantastic, with plenty of plates, tablecloths, and napkins featuring flowers, strawberries (why not have a strawberry picnic in June?), watermelons, pineapples, and flamingos. Plus there are solid-colored party goods in bright, cheerful hues that are perfect for warm weather celebrations.

I'm always on the hunt for deals on flower seed packets. These were $1.50 for three packets, and the selection of summer annuals was great. All of these seeds can be direct sown outdoors in June, including sunflowers, cosmos, sweet alyssum, zinnias, and four o'clocks. So if you left your summer gardening until the last minute, here's an affordable solution. Even if you don't get them planted this summer, you can save them for next spring.

Walk into a Dollar Tree starting in June, and you'll see several displays of party goods for Independence Day. Whether you need paper plates, tablecloths, napkins, travel cups, hanging signs, or garlands, there's a huge selection of goodies all in brilliant red, white, and blue. Here, you can grab just about everything you need for your celebration — with the exception of fireworks, of course!

Citronella products are very effective for keeping away mosquitos. These wristbands are an easy way  to ward off these biting pests while you enjoy all of your favorite outdoor activities. The active ingredients include geraniol (geranium essential oil), lemongrass oil, and citronella oil. These non-toxic, all-natural insect repellents smell good and work great, and thanks to the bracelets' convenient design, you won't have to deal with annoying, sticky sprays.

Dollar Tree often has various solar lights of different shapes and sizes displayed with its summer garden goods. These handy plastic solar lanterns are a nice, colorful alternative to the clear glass ones I sometimes get at Aldi in the summer. For $1.50 this is a great deal, too. These are easy to use and handy to carry around for extra illumination, but they can also be hung from your patio or displayed on outdoor tables.

Who doesn't need some extra help carrying their items? At $1.50 each, these study plastic buckets are an affordable way to keep your summer essentials contained and portable. Use them to tote your gardening supplies, store your outdoor toys, or keep pool towels accessible on the patio. Thanks to the open, breathable design, you won't have to worry about pooling water, sand, or debris.