summer

Good news! We have been working with City of Corpus Christi staff and other local green industry leaders to revise the Drought Contingency Plan, particularly Stage 3 restrictions on most outdoor water use. Thankfully, City leadership has been open to discussing revisions, acknowledging the concern for water shortages as well as the need to keep our city alive and vibrant. As of January 17th, City leadership has agreed to revise the rules and present a new Drought Contingency Plan to City Council for approval. Here’s what you need to know!

New Stage 3 Rules Allow Hand-Watering and Drip Irrigation

Under new proposed Stage 3 rules, hand watering is allowed any day before 10:00 a.m. and after 6:00 p.m., and drip irrigation systems can be used to water landscapes on your designated watering day every other week. We feel very good about these changes – they will allow us all to keep landscapes and trees alive through the drought. The City has also agreed to grant temporary exemptions to watering rules for new plantings for up to 30 days, which will allow homeowners to continue investing in their property. Homeowners should use the City’s form to apply for an exemption to get new landscapes established, then once they’re established, hand watering and drip irrigation will keep them thriving.

New Stage 3 Rules Still Need to be Approved by City Council

The new draft Drought Contingency Plan will be presented at the next City Council meeting on Tuesday, January 28th. We encourage you to contact your City Council members and Mayor Guajardo to express your support for these changes to the Stage 3 watering rules. Better yet, sign up to make public comments at the Council meeting! We plan to speak at the meeting on the 28th, then again at the meeting on February 11th, where Council will vote to adopt the new plan. If the plan is adopted, the new rules will be effective in time for spring!

The City is Planning to Make Recycled Effluent Water Available for Residential Use

Since spray irrigation will still be prohibited under new Stage 3 rules, using recycled water is a great option for lawns. The City is currently building a tank farm to hold recycled effluent water which can be hauled and used to water residential lawns and landscapes. Once this water becomes available, Gill’s will provide this service. If you’d like to get on our list for lawn watering, please get in touch!

*Spoiler alert: the only thing that made me call this recipe South TX style is that I put together the baba ghanoush in a molcajete. Otherwise, this is a pretty standard recipe and a great way to use eggplant.

I planted 1 single Black Beauty eggplant plant back in October and ended up getting about 20 nice fruits from it from Early December to mid January. This was my first time growing eggplant and I plan to do more this Spring. I think everybody should – there’s still time! So easy and the fresh eggplant tastes amazing.

As my fruit started to appear and ripen, I’d harvest 1 or 2, rough chop, and roast the eggplants and add to pizzas or pasta sauces or salads. So good! My final harvest was brought on by the freeze we had in January. I picked all the remaining eggplants before the freeze, some large and tender, some small and not totally ripe. The plan was to make baba ghanoush, which takes quite a few eggplants.

It was raining, and I didn’t want to build a fire outside, so I charred the eggplants directly on my gas stove burner. Traditionally, you’d do this directly on hot coals. Burning them is the key to the flavor. Once charred black, I drizzled with a little olive oil and finished in the oven. This took about 40min at 400 degrees until they were deflated and cooked through.

I let them cool a bit so they’d be easy to handle, then sliced them open and scooped out the flesh with a spoon, discarding the skins.

Then I squeezed the juice of 1 whole lemon and added a few cloves of garlic, a splash of olive oil, a pinch of paprika, and a pinch of coarse salt to my molcajete and ground it to a smooth paste.

Next I added all the eggplant flesh and about 1 tablespoon of tahini and folded it all together, mashing the eggplant until it was all incorporated but still a bit chunky.

That’s it! Delicious baba ghanoush! Add salt and more olive oil to taste and sprinkle with paprika to serve. We didn’t have any pita bread, so one more thing that makes this South TX style is that we ate it with HEB flour tortillas 🙂

-Jesse

Landscape plants, trees, and lawns are waking up for spring and putting on new growth, which means…time to fertilize!! Using a good organic fertilizer makes big difference: healthier, stronger, more disease and pest-resistant, more drought-tolerant, and more beautiful plants. Now that Stage 3 watering rules have been revised, we can water in fertilizer for landscape beds and trees without issue. But should we still fertilize lawns if we can’t water lawns?

The short answer is yes! Using a good organic lawn food, like our go-to Medina Growin Green, promotes root growth and long-term health, which makes lawns more tolerant of less water. Ideally you’d want to water the fertilizer in, but you don’t have to. Medina Growin Green is gentle and won’t burn your lawn. You can apply it now and water it in slowly over a few weeks. If you have trees in your yard, keep in mind that fertilizer and water need to be applied at the drip line, aka where rainwater naturally drips off the outer edge of the canopy. Therefore, if you apply fertilizer to your lawn and water it in for the trees, your lawn will get the benefit too. You can also try to time your lawn fertilizing with a light rain. We typically don’t recommend waiting for rain to fertilize since a heavy rain would wash most of the fertilizer granules away. But, given the watering limitations, taking advantage of a light rain is a good solution.

Homeowners can also collect free effluent water at the Oso Wastewater Treatment Plant to use to water lawns. Apply for a quick and easy residential permit from the City of Corpus Christi here. Gill’s plans to provide this service as well, but the permitting process for businesses takes a while longer. Once we receive our permit, we’ll get the word out.

Another great option is to collect rainwater or recycled gray water at home. If your washing machine is in an accessible location, it can be as simple as connecting a water hose and having it drain into a rain barrel or water tank. Just 1 single washing machine load can produce 15-30 gallons of water. Talk to a plumber about setting this up if your washing machine is not as accessible. Dishwasher too! As long as you use the gentle “free and clear” or fragrance/chemical-free detergents and soaps, your gray water will be great for the lawn.

Very important: We do not recommend using chemical lawn fertilizers, especially when water is limited. With chemical fertilizers, you get a quicker green-up and more top growth, which requires more water to maintain. Whereas with a good organic, you get deeper roots that can withstand less water. Also, don’t try to treat for weeds and fertilize at the same time. It doesn’t work! That’s why we don’t sell and don’t recommend “weed and feed” type products. Treat for weeds first, wait a couple weeks, then fertilize.

We carry a few different fertilizers that do slightly different things for different plants, but you really only need one – Medina Growin Green! One 40lb bag of Medina Growin Green covers 3,000 sq. ft. of lawn and you can use it on everything else too! It’s all organic and works like magic on lawns, veggie gardens, trees, shrubs, flowers, blooming perennials, you name it.

Recent rains + lots of sunshine + a cool front coming this weekend = AMAZING time to garden! We’re all busy planting, re-designing, fertilizing, and getting ready for holidays and weekends outside with family and friends. Here are our top tips for making the most of a very important month in the garden.

1. Feed Your Plants, Trees, and Lawns Too

Feeding your plants this month is a must. This includes lawns, trees, and most plants. Everything is actively growing, which means they’ll need more food to continue looking their best. Medina Growin Green is a great multi-purpose food for landscape plants, shrubs, trees, veggies, lawns, you name it! For blooming perennials, annual flowers, and veggies we really like using a good organic granular food like Medina Growin Green, Plant Tone by Espoma, or Rose Glo in combination with Medina Hasta Gro liquid. Feed with the granular on the 1st of each month, then follow up with liquid Hasta Gro on the 15th. Add these reminders to your calendar and you can’t go wrong!

Yes, you can still fertilize your lawn, even though our lawn watering is limited. Using a good organic lawn food, like our go-to Medina Growin Green, promotes root growth and long-term health, which makes lawns more tolerant of less water. Ideally you’d want to water the fertilizer in, but you don’t have to. Medina Growin Green is gentle and won’t burn your lawn. You can apply it now and water it in slowly over a few weeks. If you have trees in your yard, keep in mind that fertilizer and water need to be applied at the drip line, aka where rainwater naturally drips off the outer edge of the canopy. Therefore, if you apply fertilizer to your lawn and water it in for the trees, your lawn will get the benefit too. You can also try to time your lawn fertilizing with a light rain. We typically don’t recommend waiting for rain to fertilize since a heavy rain would wash most of the fertilizer granules away. But, given the watering limitations, taking advantage of a light rain is a good solution.

Homeowners can also collect free effluent water at the Oso Wastewater Treatment Plant to use to water lawns. Apply for a quick and easy residential permit from the City of Corpus Christi here.

2. Watering Wands Win!

Hand watering with a watering wand that has a cutoff valve is the most efficient and best way to water, especially for new plantings. Watering plants low to the ground keeps water from escaping via wind and evaporation and keeps water off the leaves which can invite fungal issues. Watering slowly (by turning down the pressure on your watering wand or kinking your hose) ensures that more water gets down to the roots instead of running off the surface.

Keep in mind that hand watering and drip irrigation are allowed during current watering restrictions. You can hand water any day before 10am or after 6pm, and you can supplement with drip irrigation once every other week. We carry the pro watering wands that we use here at Gill’s as well as moisture meters, timers, and soaker hoses.

For any new plantings, including turfgrass, you can apply for a temporary exemption to watering restrictions and use sprinklers and irrigation systems in order to help get plants, lawns, and trees established. We can help you file for the exemption if you like – it’s a straightforward process.

3. Plant Blooming Perennials for Pollinators

April is time to add some blooming perennials to attract pollinators like butterflies, bees, and birds to your garden. You support pollinators (and the planet!) and in return they help you have more blooms, better production on your veggies, and a more vibrant landscape! Remember – April is when we start seeing hummingbirds! We’ve just seen our first hummingbirds of the season here at Gill’s this week! Add a few of their favorites like this native Salvia greggii, native Flame Acanthus, or firebush and make your backyard a preferred stop.

4. Plant Your Warm Weather Veggies

It’s time to plant hot peppers, squash, zucchini, basil, beans, and more! When starting veggies, the trick is to get the soil as active and alive as possible. Amend your existing soil with Nature’s Blend Compost (about 1 bag per 12 sq. ft.), then add a little Bio Tone starter fertilizer with mycorrhizal fungi and a good handful of worm castings when you plant each plant. Then follow our trusted fertilizer schedule – Plant Tone on the 1st of the month and liquid Hasta Gro on the 15th! Remember that veggies use a lot of energy and need these regular feedings to produce. Plus, strong, vigorous veggie plants are less susceptible to pest damage.

5. Mulch! Not Just for Good Looks…

We all know that fresh mulch is like a fresh coat of paint for your garden – instant makeover! But did you know that applying a proper 3” layer of natural mulch keeps underlying soil temps more than 20 degrees cooler?! A good mulch layer keeps weeds at bay, and as it breaks down over time, it add nutrients to your soil. And perhaps most importantly right now, a good mulch layer retains moisture, which means big water savings.

6. Get Ready for Guests

Get outside and enjoy the gorgeous weather and prep for gathering with family and friends! For the quickest and easiest impact outdoors, think hanging baskets full of Impatiens, Vinca, Purslane, Geraniums and more overflowing with color. Some pops of color plus fresh mulch in your beds and you’re ready to host! For indoors, our favorite flower arrangements are those cut fresh from the garden and landscape.

Check out our April Garden Guide for more tips!

Fresh mulch is like a fresh coat of paint for your garden – beautiful instant makeover! But it’s not just for looks. Natural mulch has so many other critical benefits, especially as we move into warmer summer temperatures. Read to learn more about how mulch keeps plant roots healthier, adds nutrients to the soil, suppresses weeds, prevents plant disease, and very importantly right now, saves water!

Mulch Keeps Plant Roots 20 Degrees Cooler!

Did you know that applying a proper 3” layer of natural mulch, like hardwood, cedar, or pine straw mulch, keeps underlying soil temps more than 20 degrees cooler?! Gill’s Landscape Designer, Kathy Hubner attended a webinar presented by Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories in which they shared amazing results from a mulch study in San Antonio. Soil temperatures were measured at 6″ deep (where plant roots live) on a 105 degree summer day. Bare soil with no mulch, 6″ down was 102 degrees. Soil under grass was 92 degrees. Soil beneath a 3″ layer of mulch was only 76 degrees!! Keeping plant roots cool helps them take up water and nutrients and prevents heat stress on the plant. To achieve a 3″ layer of mulch takes about 1 bag per 12 sq. ft.

Mulch Suppresses Weeds & Builds Healthy Soil!

A 3″ mulch layer also helps suppress weeds by blocking light that weed seeds need in order to sprout, while still allowing good water, oxygen, and nutrient transfer for plants. And speaking of nutrients, natural mulches break down over time and help build healthier, looser soil. For these reasons, mulch can also act as an excellent placeholder for areas that you plan to plant in the future. For example, once you harvest your spring veggies, mulch that area to keep weeds from invading and to keep soil nice and healthy for when you get ready to plant again. Or, if you’re working on your landscape in phases, go ahead and create and mulch new beds, then plant when you’re ready – very few weeds to deal with and easier digging!

Mulch Saves You Water!

The name of the game for summer watering is to maintain depth moisture. This means watering plants slow, low, and deep. Use a watering wand and water at ground level to get water down to the roots – don’t water over the top of your plants! Also, don’t water full blast. Turn down the pressure, water slowly, and use the cycle-soak method which means water once, let it soak in, then water again to get water down deep. A proper mulch layer is your best friend for maintaining this depth moisture due to the cooling/insulating effect we’ve discussed, and because it prevents evaporation. Not only does mulch help the soil retain moisture, it also keeps soil from splashing up onto the plant when you water, which prevents fungal disease. Be sure you spread the mulch evenly and avoid creating the dreaded “mulch volcano” around the trunks or main stems of plants and trees. Mounding mulch up against the trunk can invite disease. Best to mulch around trees and plants then pull mulch away from the trunk to create just a little space.

summer

New Stage 3 Rules Allow Hand-Watering and Drip Irrigation

New Stage 3 Rules Still Need to be Approved by City Council

The City is Planning to Make Recycled Effluent Water Available for Residential Use

1. Feed Your Plants, Trees, and Lawns Too

2. Watering Wands Win!

3. Plant Blooming Perennials for Pollinators

4. Plant Your Warm Weather Veggies

5. Mulch! Not Just for Good Looks…

6. Get Ready for Guests

1. Join Us for Garden Talks and Events!

2. Plant Blooming Perennials and Trees

3. Plant and Harvest Veggies

4. Mulch for Many Reasons!

5. Transition Your Lawn to Summer

6. Set Your Mosquito Traps!

7. Gifts for Mother’s Day and Graduations

Mulch Keeps Plant Roots 20 Degrees Cooler!

Mulch Suppresses Weeds & Builds Healthy Soil!

Mulch Saves You Water!

Why Choose Rock Rose?

Growing Tips for Our Area

Medicinal and Historical Uses

Plant it with These Native Friends

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