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Gill Garden Center + Landscape Co.

Corpus Christi, TX Garden Center

(361) 992-9674
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Jesse Jenkins

If you’ve evenoticed at the bottom of our advertising, we say “Over 400 Collective Years of Gardening with Gills!” This comes from the number of years we have worked here combined…I think we are at just over 40 staff members so we average around 10 years per person although some of us are 20 years or more.  You know why? It’s because we love gardening. It’s in our blood and we have learned A LOT over our years of sharing garden stories with each other. So how can we share our success with all of you? Garden Talks! As we start this new gardening season…the best in my eyes…so we start our new garden talks beginning September 12th. They are full of fun, new, interesting topics fitting for all kinds of gardeners. New to the area? These are a perfect way to learn about what lives (and dies) in south Texas. They are packed full of good information, practical suggestions, & we welcome questions. We love to have them outdoors weather permitting but we can move indoors as needed.  They are held at our Airline location on Saturdays. Peruse our upcoming topics below, come to one or all! See you soon. Oh did I mention they’re free? Just one more reason to come! 

Garden Talks

September-October 2015

Saturdays 10:00 to 11:00am, 2810 Airline
Free – questions always welcome!!

September 12th
“A Garden For Hummers”

Speaker Marta Swanner, mgr. Gill Landscape Nursery

Hummingbirds are one of nature’s most fascinating creatures with their brilliant colors and supersonic speed. They migrate through South Texas twice a year seeking food and shelter. Join Marta as she talks about the best plants to attract and provide a natural food source for them throughout the seasons.

September 19th
“Veggies For Fall Gardens”

Speaker Debbie Pinkerton, buyer for Gill Landscape Nursery

Fresh homegrown foods are always the best for you and the most delicious! Fall is the perfect time to plant a food garden with a plethora of choices sure to bring a feast to your table. Come learn about basics of growing food from the soil to the harvest.

September 26th
“Ireland-Edibles & Garden Designs”

Speaker Kathy Hubner, Landscape Designer, Gill Landscape Nursery

From the ordinary to the extraordinary, Kathy will take you on a journey across the Atlantic to the isle of Ireland! See through her eyes their fantastic gardens filled with flowers, food, and then how you can apply these design ideas to your landscapes. This slideshow presentation brings the weaving of food plants into the landscape creating seamless garden designs.

October 3rd
“Fall Planting For Trees & Shrubs”

Speaker James Gill, owner, Gill Landscape Nursery

We love the fall weather with its cool nights, warm days, and added rainfall and so do all the plants in South Texas! It is the very best time to plant hardy trees and shrubs. Join James as he talks about the best plant selections, planting practices, and maintenance during the fall and winter seasons.

October 10th
“Lawn Care & Weed Control For Fall”

Speaker DeAnna Baumgartner, mgr. Gill Landscape Nursery

Lawns hold a top spot in our landscapes…we want them to look good and be free of pests and weeds. DeAnna gives out good sound practices for your lawns during the fall season. From fertilizing, weed control, and watering, she will help “weed out” those questions of what, when and how much.

October 17th
“More Fun With Containers”

Speaker Merlien Wilder, artist, Gill Landscape Nursery

Join Merlien as she plays with plants perfect for fall patio gardens. Come learn about great combinations, seasonal ideas, new creative projects, and practical tips for small and large containers.

debbie
-Debbie

That first cool front in September sure does feel good. And with the new season comes new flowers and time to get back outside and garden. In south Texas September and October is the best time to spread wildflower seeds. With the prediction of a wetter and cooler fall, this is a perfect time to start planning that little bed or large meadow of spring blooming wildflowers. Texas Bluebonnets,(the state flower), Alamo Fire, (the maroon bonnet) , Texas Paintbrush, Indian Blanket, Black-eyed Susan or Lemon Mint are all excellent single varieties to be planted. We also carry a wildflower mix which includes Coreopsis, Indian Blanket, Black-eyed Susan, Lemon Mint, Drummond Phlox, Cornflower, and Corn Poppy for a mixed show of spring color. There are also low growing varieties or a Butterfly/hummingbird mixture. For shady areas, we have a shade mix and also a water wise mix. Pick a spot in the yard, a flowerbed, or the easement strip and go wild this fall. It will reward you with beautiful blooms come spring.

deanna
-DeAnna

Pop Quiz! How often should you change the nectar on a hummingbird feeder? Is red food dye good or bad? How are you supposed to clean it? Don’t worry if you don’t know the answers. We’ve got you covered. A hummingbird feeder is a great supplement for nectar-rich plants like Turk’s Cap and Firebush, but if you don’t take care of them properly they can do more harm than good. South Texas is hot, and bacteria love to grow in warm sugar water, so make sure you take down your feeder, clean it and replace with fresh nectar every 1-3 days. To make fresh nectar, boil 1 cup of water and add ¼ cup of granulated sugar (not artificial sugar please!) then let it cool and Voila! Now red food dye is controversial. Some experts say it is harmful, and there are some specific kinds of dye that are. Honestly, most hummingbirds will be attracted by the flowers painted/molded on your feeder, not the color of the nectar, so don’t bother with it. Cleaning is a breeze if you have the right tools, like a bottle brush and a port cleaner (like a clean mascara wand). You can use weak vinegar or bleach solution to disinfect your feeder after it air dries. Keep your feeder clean and fresh, and your hummingbirds will be sure to thank you!

marta
-Marta

lawngardenAnytime between mid-September and  mid-October is prime time to fertilize the lawn, trees, shrubs, vines and groundcovers. Fertilizing  while it is still warm is best because plants are still in their active growing season and taking up the nutrients provided. Once the weather starts cooling down plants begin going into dormancy and therefore are not as likely to take up the nutrients needed for the fall and winter. Remember to water in the fertilizer with at least a ½ inch of irrigation. Never depend on the rain to water in your fertilizer, because as you know, it never rains when predicted, and also never gives us that perfect ½ inch. It either rains too much, too little, or not at all. Making sure the timing is right and proper amount of water is applied assures your lawn of getting the full benefit of the nutrients it needs to maintain healthy leaves and roots for the dormant season. We carry our Gill Lawn and Garden and also several organic lawn fertilizers. deannaNever use Weed and Feed if you have any trees or shrubs in the yard. Trees are a broadleaf just like a weed, so it will try to kill them as well. Weed killers and weed preventers can be used in October once our temperatures moderate in the 80’s. We will talk about them more as the season approaches.

-DeAnna

Fall will be here before you know it! So now’s the time to prepare your beds for fresh Fall color. We have garden mums, marigolds, dianthus and petunias, and we’ll be getting cooler season annuals in soon. So if your Summer flowers are looking spent, make sure you put fresh compost down, like Cotton Burr Compost (or Nature’s Blend, on sale), and use Biotone to add great microorganisms to your flower beds. martaGo ahead and get your fertilizers now too (while getting some lawn food)! Blood meal is a staple for pansies, and Rocket Fuel does wonders for Marigolds to get them started. If you plan now, your plants will thank you for it!


-Marta

Yes, I know. We just got our first shot of cooler weather so you’re just now ready to get out and garden. Timing is everything when it comes to success with vegetables. The growers are running out of tomatoes and peppers already also. We do still have some 4 inch and 1 gal. available so do not wait. If you plan on growing  beans, corn, squash, cucumbers or zucchini from seed or transplants, it is also time to get them into the ground. There is still plenty of time for cool season crops, such as beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, kale, lettuce, radish and more. Stop by and pick up our Spring/Fall Planting Guide to help you plan your garden for the season. We want everyone to have a successful harvest this fall so please send us some photos of your bountiful harvests.

deanna


-Deanna

Recently, we got some Taishan Marigolds in with an unusual stem growth. Well, it turns out these knobby little growths were actually aerial roots. So, naturally, we experimented! We potted them deep in larger containers and BAM! They’re beautiful! Who knew that Marigolds could be planted deep like you would a tomato? That’s one thing about gardening, it never gets old, boring, or routine. There are always new varieties to try, or different techniques to experiment. Whenever we get an unusual plant in, or a different chemical, the whole staff comes together and checks it out (and usually takes one home). If you’re looking for something out-of-the-ordinary, just come by! We’ve got some really wacky plants, like Peppermint Celery, Lemon Eucalyptus, and Shaving Brush Trees.

marta
-Marta

GROW-WEB also known as row cover acts like a greenhouse producing a micro-climate which encourages plant growth and development and also provides protection from insects, birds, diseases and frosts. Grow-web is air and water permeable and allows for ventilation. Because of its exceptional air flow and light penetration , it can be left on a crop for the entire growing season with the exception of vine crops, which need pollination. These include squash, cucumbers and zucchini. Our packaged grow-web is 12’x16′.

deanna-DeAnna

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