summer

Rain in the forecast, wonderful temperatures, holidays with family and friends = AMAZING time to garden! We’re all busy planting, re-designing, fertilizing, and getting ready for outdoor fun with guests. 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.

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 other supplies to help make the most of your water.

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! Add a few of their favorites like this native salvia greggii, native flame acanthus, red yucca, 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 – granular food (like Medina Growin Green or 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 – you WILL get more and better-tasting fruit with a good fertilizer schedule. 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 periwinkles, coleus, hummingbird falls salvia, bougainvillea, 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, or we have some cute dried arrangements too!

Yay for May! Everything’s growing and blooming and supercharged by recent rains! We hope you are too. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which is a good time to think about the peace of mind that gardening brings us. Gardeners know all the research is true – gardening is one of the healthiest, most satisfying, and most fulfilling things humans can do! Here are our Top 7 Must Do’s this May to keep you and your garden feelin’ good.

1. Join Us for Workshops & Events!

We’ve got a big May planned here at Gill’s with another round of fun workshops and events. Next weekend, on Saturday, May 9th, we’re inviting kids to come pot up a free flower for Mom for Mother’s Day. The following week, we’re hosting our first ever Ikebana workshop led by our fav local floral designer, Julia Prohorova aka Wild Veggie Bouquet! We’ve got Bigfoot’s Rockeaters coming for a cactus growing talk later this month, plus round 2 of our Nightbloom Market after-hours shopping event – this time with more vendors! Click here for more info, RSVPs, and tickets!

2. Plant Blooming Perennials and Trees

It’s time to plant lots of different blooming perennials and blooming trees. Get them established in May so they are rooted and acclimated to withstand warmer temps this summer. Staples like Esperanza, many varieties of Salvia, Lantana, and tons more are all blooming beautifully right now. And blooming native trees like Retama and Wild Olive are looking great right now. Added bonus: blooming perennials and trees attract lots of butterflies and hummingbirds!

3. Plant and Harvest Veggies

Warm weather veggie time! Plant all kinds of peppers, zucchini, squash, melons, and okra this month for continued harvesting into the summer months. If you planted tomatoes, cucumbers, and other early spring veggies, you’ll be harvesting now or very soon. Be sure to harvest often! It keeps birds & insects from finding them first, and helps redirect energy to produce more fruit. If you do have insect issues in your veggie garden, our go-to organic control is Spinosad soap – safe for food but takes care of a lot of common bad bugs.

4. Mulch for Many Reasons!

We all know that fresh mulch is the quickest garden 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.

5. What About Watering?

Speaking of watering, despite long-term drought conditions and potential water emergencies in the news, we need to continue to water smartly. Watering consistently now (just enough) will help maintain depth moisture, make the most of rainfall, and help plant roots grow deeper – all of which will reduce water needs and save water in the long run. Does all of our plant water need to come from the tap? Nope! You can conserve a lot of city water by collecting rainwater, A/C condensate, water from dehumidifiers, and re-using gray water from washing machines and dishwashers. If you’re interested in collecting a lot of rainwater, the Gill’s landscape team installs custom rainwater collection systems using stainless steel cisterns that are very attractive in the landscape and last a lifetime. Just 1″ of rain on 1,000 square feet of roof space can catch 600 gallons of rainwater. Get in touch!

6. Set Your Mosquito Traps!

We are big fans of the simple bucket mosquito trap. Just fill a bucket 3/4 with water, add a good handful of lawn or plant clippings, and toss in a Mosquito Dunk or Mosquito Bits. These dissolve in the water and release bacteria that target mosquito larvae and kill them before they hatch. And they’re organic and not harmful to birds, bees, pets or humans! Set a few of these traps, sprinkle some organic Mosquito Beater granules around walkways and patios, and use Skeeter Screen incense sticks near where you’re working or hanging out outside. Remember that using chemical mosquito foggers kills all the good bugs too, some of which help control mosquitos and other bad bugs.

7. Gifts for Mother’s Day and Graduations

Let us help you find something pretty, useful, or both for the gardening moms and grads in your life. Pottery, birdbaths, wind chimes, quality garden tools, hats, gloves, garden decor, plantable greeting cards, gardening books – lots of options. You can purchase Gill gift cards online here. Or come find the gift that gardeners love most – plants 🙂

How is it almost June already?! It doesn’t feel like it! Mild temperatures and wonderful rainfall are making our transition into summer a breeze. Here are our top priorities in the garden this month, including what to plant, how to adjust watering, pests to watch out for, and how to keep plant roots cool and happy. Plus, we’re hosting lots of fun events throughout the month!

1. Water Low & Slow to Maintain Depth Moisture

Our goal this month is to maintain the depth moisture that recent rains have created. It’s much easier and takes far less water to maintain that depth moisture than it does to build it back up again if we let the soil get too dry. The key is watering low, as in as in low to the ground to avoid evaporation, and slow as in not with your hose open full-blast. This helps decrease runoff and get more water down to the roots. Consider setting up your own automatic drip irrigation system – they’re easy to DIY and they operate on the low & slow principle. Also, be sure to use the cycle & soak method, which simply means water once, let it soak in for several minutes, then come back and water again. This makes sure you’re pushing water down deep.

Pro tip: Use a moisture meter in your landscape beds and pots! We carry them for around $10 and can show you how easy they are to use. They have a long soil probe that tells you whether you actually have good moisture (or too much) down deep where it’s needed. They’ve saved many plants!

2. Keep Soil Moist & Roots Cool with Mulch

A good mulch layer (2-3″ deep) has so many benefits. It looks amazing, keeps weeds down, helps retain moisture, adds organic matter to the soil, AND keeps plant roots nice and cool in the summer. Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories shared amazing results with us from a mulch study they conducted in San Antonio a few years back. Soil temperatures were measured at 6″ deep (where plant roots live) on a 105 F summer day. Bare soil, 6″ down was 102 F. Soil under grass was 92 F. Soil beneath a 3″ layer of mulch was only 76 F!! Mulch your beds! Mulch also makes a great placeholder while you’re still deciding what to plant.

3. Plant Blooming Perennials for Summer!

So many of our favorite plants for South Texas don’t just tolerate warm weather, they only begin to thrive and look their best in the summer. Think of blooming perennials like Firebush, Esperanza, and Pride of Barbados for awesome summer impact. Think of big purslane hanging baskets, Gomphrena, and Periwinkles for bursts of bright color. And browse our Texas native plant section for plants and trees that have thrived through hundreds and even thousands of Texas summers. If you’re still wanting to plant food, you can do that too – okra, basil, eggplant, thyme, watermelon, peppers, black-eyed peas and more are great planted in June.

4. Watch for Summer Bugs, Critters, and Plant Disease

Yes, bad bugs will be around more during the Summer, but don’t treat unless there’s significant damage. We can help identify the pest and if/how to treat. You don’t want to kill too many good bugs while trying to take care of the bad bugs! If you see brown areas in the lawn that are easily pulled up, it’s usually a sign of grubs eating the roots of your grass. You can control grubs with Bonide Insect and Grub Control. Chinch bugs love hot dry areas in lawns. They make the lawn look dried out along sidewalks and pavement. Spot-treat those areas with Cyonara in easy ready-to-spray bottles. For organic control, use Spinosad or Diatomaceous Earth. We’ve also seen a lot more caterpillars than usual this spring munching on veggie gardens. Just a few caterpillars can be relocated, but if you have a lot destroying your plants, you can treat with organic Bt in liquid spray or powder form.

5. Stay Tuned for Fun June Events at Gill’s!

We’ve been overwhelmed with the response to all our events this spring and we’re not stopping! We absolutely love hosting you all, not just for plant shopping, but for learning and building our wonderful local gardening community. We’ve got a big June planned starting with a Gulf Coast Humane Society pet adoption day on June 6th, then flower bingo, plant trivia night, our 2nd annual Father’s Day cookout, and another Nightbloom Market on June 25th! Stay tuned here for updates.

Happy National Pollinator Week! Gardeners know that planting to support and protect pollinators like hummingbirds, bees, butterflies, and good bugs creates a healthy local ecosystem. And pollinators return the favor by making our gardens and landscapes so much more beautiful with healthier plants and tons more blooms. Here are our top 11 summer-tough plants to create a pollinator-friendly habitat in your yard – in stock at Gill’s and ready to plant right now!

Pentas

Pollinators: Butterflies, native bees, hummingbirds
Why We Love It: Pentas are often thought of as just being a gorgeous and easy bedding plant, but they actually attract a ton of pollinators!
Planting Tip: Plant in full sun to partial shade. Excellent in beds or containers. Mulch with pine straw to add a bit of acidity to the soil.

Firebush (Hamelia patens)

Pollinators: Hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees
Why We Love It: Bright orange-red blooms all summer long!
Planting Tip: Loves full sun. Foliage dies back in winter. Cut back hard in early spring and it grows back very fast.

Purslane

Pollinators: Native bees and small butterflies
Why We Love It: A low-growing, drought-tolerant succulent with vivid blooms in lots of different colors. And Purslane is edible! High in omega-3s and minerals.
Planting Tip: Tuck it into hanging baskets, borders, or between rocks—just give it sunshine and dry feet.

Palo Verde ‘Desert Museum’

Pollinators: Butterflies, hummingbirds, carpenter bees

Why We Love It: Cultivar of our South Texas native retama, but without the thorns and a longer blooms cycle. Blooms all the way into the fall!
Planting Tip: Plant high for better drainage, especially in clay soil. Berm or mound up so water runs off and away from the tree. Loves hot and dry. Grows to about 20′ tall and wide.

Esperanza – all varieties

Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Why We Love It: Comes in several different varieties from the tidy, dwarf ‘Sparklette’ with orange blooms to the large ‘Yellow Bells’ with bright yellow blooms.
Planting Tip: Full sun and low water needs. Plant in your sunniest spots.

Texas Native Blackfoot Daisy

Pollinators: Bees, Butterflies, Sphynx Moths
Why We Love It: Delightful and plentiful white blooms, extremely tough, very low water
Planting Tip: Full sun + good drainage. Excellent for rocky beds or containers.

Texas Native Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)

Pollinators: Monarchs (host plant!), bees, and other butterflies
Why We Love It: Orange or yellow blooming varieties + life support for monarch caterpillars = must-have native!
Planting Tip: Full sun, well-drained soil, and very little water once established.

Gregg’s Mistflower

Pollinators: Queen butterflies, monarchs, skippers, bees
Why We Love It: Soft lavender puffs that butterflies go wild for.
Planting Tip: Likes part sun to full sun and moderate moisture. Plant about 3 feet apart and it will spread and fill in beautifully.

Texas Sage (all varieties)

Pollinators: Bees and butterflies
Why We Love It: Lavender blooms that pop before and after rain, and it’s practically unkillable.
Planting Tip: Plant in your hottest, sunniest spots and avoid overwatering. Choose the right variety for the right space – some stay 3-4′, while some grow 8-10′.

Firecracker Plant (Russelia)

Pollinators: Hummingbirds and butterflies
Why We Love It: Cascading coral-red blooms that hummingbirds can’t resist.
Planting Tip: Likes moist, well-drained soil and full sun. Looks stunning in containers or hanging over walls.

Yaupon Holly

Pollinators: Nectar source for bees in the spring and food source for birds (especially mockingbirds) in the fall/winter
Why We Love It: Grows wild all over our area. Versatile and sculptural in landscapes. The only plant native to North America that contains natural caffeine! The leaves can be used for tea.
Planting Tip: Thrives in clay or sandy soil. Full sun to partial shade. Keep bushy or trim up to create a tree form.

Pride of Barbados aka Dwarf Poinciana

Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Why We Love It: Tropical drama with vivid red-orange blooms and feathery foliage.
Planting Tip: Needs full sun, good drainage, and a little patience in spring—it doesn’t start to perform until temps reach 90!

Texas Native Flame Acanthus

Pollinators: Hummingbirds and bees
Why We Love It: Red tubular flowers that keep hummingbirds zipping around all summer.
Planting Tip: Drought-tolerant and easy-going—cut back in winter and it bounces back fast.

Salvia Mystic Spires

Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds
Why We Love It: Spiky deep blue blooms and non-stop action from all pollinators. Our best-performing blue salvia for South TX.
Planting Tip: Plant in full sun and deadhead for more blooms.

Texas Native Frogfruit

Pollinators: Butterflies (especially Phaon Crescent), bees, and skippers
Why We Love It: A native groundcover with charming flowers and big ecological value.
Planting Tip: Use as a ground cover in beds, lawn alternative, or spilling out of raised beds and containers. Thrives almost anywhere – sun or shade and spreads quickly.

We’ve passed the halfway point for 2026…that was fast! We hope you’re having lots of fun this summer – holidays, BBQs, weekend trips, and garden projects! Here are our top must-do’s to keep your plants healthy and happy in July, including tips for planting, watering, and summer pests to watch out for.

1. Yes, You Can Plant in the Summer!

Myth: I’ve heard that you can’t plant in the summer because its too hot… FACT: Of course you can!! You can plant just about anything in our summers, including trees, as long as you have a good plan for watering. In fact, summer is a great time to plant crape myrtles because they’re blooming and you get to choose the color IRL! While we’re past the season for spring veggies like tomatoes, there are still plenty of summer veggies like okra, peppers, eggplant, and melons to plant now. If you want your own fresh pumpkins for Halloween, start ’em in July. Plus, now’s a great time to set table for the fall hummingbird migration with their fav blooming perennials like Firebush, Firecracker plant (pictured), native flame Acanthus, and Dicliptera aka Hummingbird Bush. Don’t let any myths discourage your summer gardening!

2. Watering: Think Depth, Not Frequency

Proper hydration happens when you get water down to the roots of the plant. This means watering deeply, not more frequently. Plants need long, slow, deep drinks! Encourage those roots to dive deeper for water. Even with recent summer rains (yay!!), continue to watch your watering and maintain that depth moisture. If you notice this summer that you’re having to water your potted plants a lot more often, it could be time to re-pot. As the pot fills up with roots, you end up with less soil and therefore less moisture retention.

3. Mulch to Keep Roots Cool

Another way to save water is to keep landscape beds and gardens mulched through the summer. Studies show that a good 3″ layer of mulch will keep your plant roots more than 20 degrees cooler! Not only that, a good mulch layer also helps retain moisture AND keeps weeds at bay. Healthy plants, less watering, and fewer weeds – that’s a win/win/win! It’s important to use natural wood or pine straw mulch that breaks down over time, NOT the red dyed stuff! As natural mulch breaks down, it adds nutrients and makes your soil more workable. Keep in mind, mulch is also a great placeholder. If you have areas that you plan to plant later, keep them mulched to keep weeds out and keep your soil healthy and ready to plant when you are.

4. Watch for More Bugs in Summer

This is what a mealybug infestation looks like!

Not all bugs are bad, so it’s important to know your bugs before you spray anything, even organics. A few bugs here and there is most likely not cause for alarm. If you do get an infestation, cut the plant back first, give it some fertilizer, then treat for bugs. By pruning first, you won’t have to treat every leaf on the whole plant. We see plants come back better than ever using this method. If you’re not sure about bugs or pruning, we’re here to help. During summer, watch out for mealybugs on plants like Hibiscus and Turk’s Cap, lacebugs on Lantana, and chinch bugs in the lawn – especially near sidewalks and driveways! We’ve got solutions for all of the above.

5. Yes, You Should Fertilize in the Summer!

Continue to feed plants, especially heavy bloomers and veggies through the summer. Keep in mind that strong, healthy plants are less susceptible to pests and disease. Speaking of strong, try a good liquid foliar food like Medina Hasta Gro about every other week in addition to your granular feedings about once a month. The foliar food sprayed directly on the leaves really makes those leaves stronger and more robust. Lots of gardeners like to use liquid seaweed in the summer for a similar purpose, to help fortify and summer-proof your plants. What about lawns? If you haven’t fed your lawn yet, you can still do that too. If you have, you don’t need to feed it again until the fall.

Bring the kids to Gill’s on Saturday, July 11th to celebrate our favorite summer flowers – zinnias! We’ll have stations set up for the kiddos to make their own mud cookies, sprinkle some zinnia seeds into the mud mixture, and cut out cute cookies in the shapes of butterflies! Once you get them home, these zinnia seed cookies can be planted in pots or beds – just water them in, and in a couple weeks, your zinnias will start to sprout and grow!

Free event for kids 12 and under!

Bring the kids to Gill’s this Saturday, July 11th to celebrate our favorite summer flowers – zinnias! We’ll have stations set up for the kiddos to make their own mud cookies, sprinkle some zinnia seeds into the mud mixture, and cut out cute cookies in the shapes of butterflies! Once you get them home, these zinnia seed cookies can be planted in pots or beds – just water them in, and in a couple weeks, your zinnias will start to sprout and grow!

Free event for kids 12 and under! See y’all this Saturday!

Many of us at Gill’s have been talking about how spoiled our plants at home have become with all the wonderful rainfall we had in May and June. It seems now that we’ve been having some real summer weather in July, some plants are being dramatic and extra tired-looking. Fortunately, there’s a simple, natural tool that gardeners around the world have relied on for decades: liquid seaweed. Think of it as a wellness tonic rather than a meal. It won’t replace fertilizer or water, but it can help fortify plants against summer stress. Here’s how.

Why Does Liquid Seaweed Work?

Unlike fertilizers, liquid seaweed contains relatively low levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Instead, its magic lies in an incredible collection of naturally occurring compounds. Seaweed contains natural plant growth regulators (including compounds similar to cytokinins and auxins) as well as amino acids, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidant compounds that help plants respond more effectively to environmental stress.

Plants under heat stress produce excessive amounts of reactive oxygen species (ROS), often called “free radicals.” These unstable molecules damage plant cells, slow photosynthesis, and accelerate aging. Seaweed strengthens cell walls and helps plants by increasing antioxidant activity that helps neutralize damaging free radicals. Liquid seaweed also promotes root branching and fine root development, helping plants access water more efficiently during dry periods.

How to Apply Liquid Seaweed

Spray directly onto the leaves as a foliar spray to allow plants to absorb all the beneficial compounds quickly. Aim to coat both the tops and undersides of leaves without causing runoff. Or use as a soil drench: pour diluted seaweed around the root zone to encourage healthy root growth and support beneficial soil microbes. Many gardeners alternate between foliar sprays and soil drenches throughout the summer about every 2-4 weeks. Spray in the early morning or late evening – avoid applying during the hottest part of the day.

Most garden and landscape plants respond well to liquid seaweed, including veggies, herbs, blooming perennials, houseplants, annual flowers, fruit trees, shrubs, and even lawns. Avoid applying seaweed to agaves, cacti, succulents, and tender new seedlings.

Pair Liquid Seaweed With Mulch for Maximum Protection

A winning combination for summer is to pair regular liquid seaweed applications with a good 2-4 inch layer of natural mulch. Together, these help reduce water loss, encourage deep roots, and allow plants to remain productive through prolonged hot weather.