October Garden Guide
Planting Season! Fall is Our Best Planting Season!Trees, shrubs, and perennials get a great bonus when planted in fall. South Texas enjoys relatively warm soil temperatures through fall and winter, and cooler air temperatures direct the new plant to grow roots all through this time. So, a plant put into the ground in fall will grow […]
Top 6 Gardening Must-Dos For October
Fall is OUR ABSOLUTE BEST TIME for planting veggies, trees, and just about everything else! It just feels good! Here are our top to-do’s in the garden this month. PLUS – to kick off October, James Gill is giving a Garden Talk this Saturday, October 1! Check out our October Garden Guide for more tips and remember […]
Kids’ Tree Giveaway This Saturday!
Attention parents and kids: join us here at Gill’s this Saturday for a talk and tree planting demo. All kids will receive a free native Live Oak tree seedling and soil blend for planting! We thought it would be fun to teach kids how to plant trees and give them their own tiny tree to […]
Garden Talk This Saturday – Maximizing Your Veggie Harvest with DeAnna and Wyatt
Join us this Saturday, September 17th at 10:00am for our first Fall ’22 garden talk! DeAnna Baumgartner and Wyatt Page, our garden center managers and expert veggie gardeners will share their tips for maximizing your Fall and Winter veggie harvest. Here’s a preview – see you Saturday! Soil, Sunlight, and Spacing are Key Soil nutrients […]
Time Out – Wait to Fertilize!
Here comes the sun! Plants and lawns are certainly well-hydrated after all that rain. Our first impulse may be to fertilize as soon as the sun comes out, but we need to wait a little longer. Here’s how to make sure you get the best impact from feeding. Lawns In normal conditions, Fall lawn fertilizing […]
Top 6 Gardening Must-Do’s for September 2022
What a joy to see green everywhere! You can feel the big sigh of relief from plants and people too. All this rain is FANTASTIC news for fall gardens! Here are our top must-do’s this month as we head into our best planting season. Check out our September Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, […]
Meet Your Garden Coach + Planting Team!
Meet Frances, the Garden Coach here at Gill’s! Frances, along with Josh and Larry (the planting dream team), is ready to help you with small landscape projects like designing and planting a new bed or two, creating a butterfly garden, or planting new trees and shrubs. Here’s how the process works. Frances is an avid […]
Use the Recent Rain to Your Advantage – Maintain Depth Moisture!
Wow, that rain was an instant mood booster! Great news as we gear up for Fall gardening! Now that we’ve had some rain, it’s important to maintain that depth of moisture. Here are a few continued watering tips to be sure you make the most of it. Remember: It’s easier to maintain depth moisture than […]
Time to Plant Your Fall Tomatoes and Peppers!
It may not feel like it yet, but Fall is coming! It’s already time to plant your tomatoes and peppers. We want to make sure you get a big harvest with plenty to share! Here are a few key tips. Tips for Tomatoes Start tomatoes in a bed enriched with Nature’s Blend Compost, about 1 bag […]
Critical: Water Your Mature Trees!
During current drought conditions, it is critical that you water your established, mature trees. Of course, we want to make sure we take care of plants and lawns too, but be sure your trees are getting enough water. Here’s how. Trees, especially mature shade trees, provide huge benefits for our environment and they’re difficult and […]
Top 6 Must Do’s This August
August is almost here! It’s time to start making the transition into an exciting new Fall planting season. Here are our top must-do’s for this coming month. Check out our August Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted 12 months out of the year! The only difference is the […]
Marie & Lanny Embrace Nature at Their Wimberley Home
Two of our favorite people, Marie (James’ sister) and Lanny (our brother-in-law) bought a home on the outskirts of Wimberley, Texas about seven years ago. It sits on an acre of land, with a covered veranda across the back of the house, looking out onto a small garden area and swimming pool with a grove […]
Watch out for Chinch Bugs in Stressed Lawns
If you know you are watering well, but still see edges of lawn near the sidewalk and driveway that look dry and wilted, you might have chinch bugs. Here’s a quick video on how to identify. [watch now – sound on!] Once you determine that chinch bugs are present, you can treat with hose-end Cyonara or Diatomaceaus Earth for […]
Our Fav Low-Maintenance Houseplants
Are you interested in houseplants, but worried about keeping them looking their best? Or maybe you’d love to give a houseplant as a gift, but you’re concerned about the recipient’s not-so-green thumb? We’ve got you covered. Here are 3 groups of houseplants (with lots of different varieties) that don’t need much TLC to be happy. […]
Top 5 Gardening Must-Do’s for July ’22
Lots of fun to be had this Summer – holidays, BBQs, weekend trips, and landscape projects! Here are our top must-do’s to keep your plants healthy and happy this July. Check out our July Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted 12 months out of the year! The only […]
Plants that Love 90 and Above
South Texas Summer is here, officially! Stay cool and garden on! Some plants need more love during the Summer, but lots of others don’t even start thriving and looking their best until temps stay above 90. Here are a few standouts to plant right now. Firebush (Hamelia patens) Blooms all summer, top hummingbird plant, easily […]
Local Gardener Spotlight – Mark Scott’s Exotic Zinnia Garden
Why does Mark Scott, community leader and eight-term city councilman, grow zinnias? So he can keep fresh flowers on his wife Carol’s bathroom counter for a big portion of the year! They were college sweethearts and have been married for 38 years. I think there’s a lesson for us all! Mark and Carol welcomed me […]
Kids’ Garden Project Idea: Plant Sunflower Seeds!
If you’re looking for a fun Summer garden project, planting sunflowers is the ticket. They’re easy to grow, they grow super fast, you can try lots of different colors/sizes, and you get to enjoy and share gorgeous sunflowers all Summer. Such a fun project for kids (and adults too!). Here’s how. First, plan your spot. […]
June Garden Guide
We all know how hard you’ve worked to have a beautiful landscape. Now how do you keep it thriving and surviving the summer heat? Check out our Top Tips for Summer Success. Comfort for Summer: Shade Cloth Lawn Care Fertilize early in the month, if not already done Fertilize organically with Milorganite or Medina Growin’ Green to your lawn […]
Top 6 Must Do’s for June 2022
It’s time to transition our gardens as we leap into Summer! Here’s our top priorities for June, which include joining us for DeAnna’s garden talk this Saturday, June 4th at 10am. Bring your questions! Check out our June Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted 12 months out of […]
Mr. Rogers’ Day 2022 – Thank You!
We had to share some photos from last Saturday’s Mr. Rogers Day event – too cute! Thank you to everyone who came out. We had so much fun. Stay tuned for more kids’ events at Gill’s!
Kids Event this Saturday – Mr. Rogers’ Day of Kindness!
This Saturday, May 21, from 10am to 2pm, we are inviting kids to come celebrate Mr. Rogers’ Day of Kindness, aka 1-4-3 day. We’ll give away a 4” blooming plant to each kid that they can give to someone who they feel could use a little kindness. Mr. Rogers’ Day of Kindness was started by […]
Houseplant Care Tips with Ori Roldan
Join us this Saturday, 5/14 at 10:00 am for our first May talk – Houseplant Care Tips! Ori Roldan, houseplant collector/researcher here at Gill’s, will share and demonstrate her best indoor jungle care tips. One attendee will win a $100 Gill’s gift card AND all houseplants are 15% off! Here’s a preview from Ori of […]
Gift Ideas for Mom
We’re thankful that many of you come to Gill’s to look for special gifts – we want to help you find (or create) something memorable for Mom! Here are a few ideas. Happy Mother’s Day! 1. Create a Living Arrangement (or pick one of ours) Choose your pot and plants for a unique living arrangement […]
May Garden Guide
Lawn Care Apply Medina Growin’ Green or Milorganite to your lawn. Water in well approximately 30 minutes per area to begin working. These feed the soil and your lawn. Prevent broadleaf weeds Use Hi-Yield Crabgrass & Weed Preventer Plant new grass Lay new sod or Bermuda seed anytime this month – plan to make time for watering! Follow city […]
Top 5 Must-Do’s for May 2022!
May means Mom’s Day, graduations, and more BBQs and family holidays outside! May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. As gardeners, we know growing plants and being outdoors are necessary for our wellbeing…and so much fun! Here are our Top 5 Must Do’s this May to help you and your garden make the transition to […]
Share a Little with the Caterpillars
We’re getting lots of calls and questions about caterpillars. They’re everywhere – ’tis the season! They may do some damage, or they may not. Here are 2 Earth-friendly approaches to consider. 1. Just a Few, Let Them Chew! A few caterpillars here and there are no cause for alarm. You might choose to do nothing […]
Enjoy Your Time with Family and Friends
Bea discovered earthworms in her garden with Nana Sally! Many of us will be gathering with family & friends this weekend to cook, eat, play games, and visit. Wonderful times and good weather for relaxing outside! We’ve been working hard to stock the store with beautiful blooming annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, and tubs of flowers […]
Warm + Windy + Dry… We Need to Water!
Since we stayed cool so long in early Spring, most of us weren’t thinking about watering. But now that we’re in a long period of no rain, high winds, and warmer temps, good watering is critical. Here are our tips to make sure your lawn and plants are properly hydrated. Depth Moisture: Water Longer and […]
Top 5 Must Do’s for April!
April is here! We’re cruising right into a beautiful Spring – there’s lots to do to make the most of all this sunshine and new growth! Here’s our list to get done this month. Check out our April Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted 12 months out […]
Bring on the Butterflies!
One of my favorite pastimes, in between planting, fertilizing, trimming, and mulching, is sitting in my backyard and watching the butterflies dance around my garden. Here’s a few tips to entice these beauties to YOUR GARDEN! Locate a sunny area. Butterflies and most butterfly attracting plants require bright sunshine. Plant nectar producing flowers. Butterflies visit […]
Flower Power – Tips for the Best Blooms
Nothing says Spring like planting flowers! Our South Texas climate gives us lots of options for blooms right now and blooms through the Spring and Summer. Here are our tips for timing, planting, and care to get the healthiest plants and brightest blooms. Timing – What to Plant, What to Expect Plant Impatiens, Petunias, Begonias, […]
Garden Talk This Saturday – Organic Vegetable Gardening with Wyatt Page
Growing food organically promotes life – you get delicious and rewarding veggies by keeping it simple and working with nature, including the beneficial organisms in the soil. Join Wyatt Page this Saturday, March 5th at 10am at Gill’s for his talk on organic veggie gardening tips. Here’s a preview from Wyatt! Amend the soil. Great […]
Top 6 March Must-Do’s
If you’re like us, you cannot wait to get outside and get gardening! The cool, damp weather has hung around too long, but there’s lots to do in preparation for blue skies ahead. Here’s what you need to get done this month. Check out our March Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and […]
March Garden Guide
Lawn Care Weed Control Spot treat existing weeds growing now with natural horticultural vinegar or Captain Jack’s Deadweed Brew. Both will burn any foliage so take care to not spray your plants or lawn.To prevent weeds, apply Hi Yield Grass and Weed Stopper or Weed Beater Complete to help control existing weeds and prevent new ones.Apply Weed-B-Gon for Southern Lawns or […]
Looking for the Healthiest, Prettiest Plants for You!
We’ve been out traveling this January and February, looking for the best plants to bring to Gill’s this Spring. There’s lots to be excited about! Debbie, Kelsie, and Jesse attended the Tropical Plants International Expo in Tampa, Florida. They came back with new sources for blooming outdoor tropical plants, new varieties of houseplants, and rare […]
Tree Pruning 101 with Mike Montgomery
We had such a great turnout at our garden talk last Saturday, so let’s do it again! This Saturday, February 19th at 10am, join Gill’s resident tree expert, Mike Montgomery as he demonstrates the do’s and don’ts of tree pruning. You’ll walk away with the info you need to sculpt small trees yourself and to […]
Get Ready for Spring with James Gill
We are beyond excited to host you all in person for our first Garden Talk of 2022! James’ ‘Get Ready for Spring’ talk is a long-standing tradition. If you’ve got questions or just want to learn more about how to prep your garden and landscape for big Spring growth, join us at 10am this Saturday. […]
Top 5 Must Do’s for February 2022
It may not feel like it today, but we are soooo close to a gorgeous Spring, and there’s lots to do in the garden. Here’s our top 5 to focus on in February to prep for an amazing Spring season. Check out our February Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can […]
February Garden Guide
Lawn Care You can still apply pre-emergent weed control to your lawn to prevent more weeds from sprouting. We recommend Hi Yield Weed & Grass Stopper with DimensionYou can overseed your lawn now with winter rye grass seed (or fill bare spots with this seed) at the rate of 1 lb. per 100 sq. ft. […]
Timing Is Everything!
Citrus Trees Fertilize your citrus NOW for more blooms, May/June for better fruit set, September/October for nutrients. For citrus trees, we recommend fertilizing with Espoma Citrus-Tone – all organic Knock-out Roses We like to cut knock-out roses by the end of January or first week of February, even if they’re covered in blooms. We prefer to cut […]
Panama Garden with Personality
Fun! Welcoming! Whimsical! And most of all, Positive! Eco-Jardin Tematico “El Explorador”, in Boquete, Panama was a wonderful discovery last summer. Sally and I went up and down trails, through arbors and under bowers and out into the sunshine again. Lovely tropical plants, cute and quirky scenarios made from “found materials”, many with uplifting phrases […]
Start Veggie Seeds Now for a Spring Harvest
Start Veggie Seeds Now for a Spring Harvest Spring in South Texas starts around February 15th – only 31 days away! We may have a couple more cold snaps ahead of us, but it’s time to start planning our Spring projects and planting veggie seeds. The first day for planting Spring seeds is January 15th give […]
Top 6 Must-Do’s for January 2022!
Welcome to 2022! January is the planning month for South Texas gardeners. Time to think about what/where/when/how, and most importantly, why to plant! Here are our top January to-do’s to set you up for a fun and successful Spring. Check out our January Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can […]
January Garden Guide
Lawn Care Weed Control Spot treat existing weeds growing now with natural horticultural vinegar or Captain Jack’s Deadweed Brew. Both will burn any foliage so take care to not spray your plants or lawn.Prevent weeds with Hi Yield Weed & Grass Stopper or Weed Beater Complete Bare Spots & Brown Lawns You can overseed your lawn […]
Big News Behind the Scenes at Gill’s
2021 has been a year for the record books in so many ways. Big challenges, big lessons, and lots of gardening to help us all stay centered and move along. As we reflect, we wanted to share 2 big things that happened this year at Gill’s that have nothing to do with any viruses or […]
Happy Holidays from All of Us at Gill’s!
Thank you for trusting Gill’s with your gardening and landscaping needs this year. From all of us to you – HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
10 Gift Ideas for Gardeners
Making your list, checking it twice, hoping the gardeners in your life, have been very nice! Come take a stroll through our garden and do a little stress-free shopping. Here are 10 gift ideas that gardeners will love. North Spore Mushroom Grow Kits Grow your own Shitake, Blue Oyster, Pink Oyster, Golden Oyster, and Lion’s […]
Help! What are These White Splotches on My Ruellia?
The past couple weeks, several customers have brought in pieces of Ruellia (Mexican Petunia) with worrisome white splotches on the leaves. At first glance, it could appear to be a fungal issue or even a chemical or paint residue, but that’s not it… Here’s what to look for and our recommendation for treatment. The white […]
December Garden Guide
Plant Flowers from Seed Carnations, larkspur, nasturtium, petunias, poppyGarden Guide: Planting Fall & Winter Annuals Flowers from Transplant Pansies, petunias, alyssum, dianthus, snapdragons, ornamental cabbage and kale, geraniums Hardy Trees, Shrubs and Vines The roots of hardy plants grow during our cool months even though their leaves may be changing color or falling from their branches. This […]
Top 5 Must-Do’s for December!
How is it December already?! Time flies when you’re having fun in the garden. Here are our top to-do’s this month: what to plant, gift ideas, Winter watering advice and more. Check out our December Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted 12 months out of the year! The […]
Christmas Trees are Here + Care Tips
We are so happy to report the Christmas trees are here and… BEAUTIFUL! The garden center is stocked with fresh-cut trees ranging from 5ft to 12ft, and the Gill’s crew has set up one very special Nordmann Fir measuring 22ft at The South Texas Botanical Gardens! Here’s some more info about our tree varieties this […]
3 Tips for Holiday Hosting: Big Impact/Little Time
Lots of us are gearing up to host friends and family for Thanksgiving and other gatherings this week. Can’t wait! Here are 3 ways to create the biggest impact outdoors with the least amount of time on your part. 1. Instant Color! Fall flowers look ahhhmazing right now. Plant a few Pansies, Violas, Ornamental Cabbage […]
James’ Watering Recommendations for Fall and Winter
S l o w d o w n watering for established trees, shrubs, ground covers, lawns, and potted plants for Fall and Winter. Once a week was appropriate in warmer temperatures, but I would water on average once every two weeks through November, and then turn off the sprinkler for December and January. If we […]
Top 5 Must-Do’s for November!
November in South Texas is all about spending time outdoors and gathering with family & friends. Cool weather, crisp evenings, outdoor fires & a beautiful garden… a welcome invitation. Here are our tips to help. Check out our November Garden Guide for more tips and remember that trees, shrubs, and perennials can be planted 12 months out […]
November Garden Guide
Plant Vegetable Seeds Beets, carrot, garlic, lettuce, mustard, onion, parsley, radish, Swiss chard, spinach, turnips, herbsRead: Best Timing for Popular Fall Veggies Flower Seeds Alyssum, bluebonnets, dianthus, delphinium, hollyhocks, larkspur, nasturtium, pansies, petunias, phlox, snapdragons, stock, sweet peas, and violasRead: Success with Fall Flowers Flower Transplants All cool season annuals Alyssum, begonias, bluebonnets, calendulas, dianthus, flowering cabbage and kale, […]
B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Container) Party at Gill’s This Saturday
B.Y.O.C. (Bring Your Own Container) Party Do you have an empty pot begging to be planted? Or an interesting container you’d like to repurpose as a planter?? Bring it to Gill’s this Saturday for our B.Y.O.C. party! Bring your container, choose your plants, and plant it up! Use our potting shed and potting stations – […]
All Green Salad with Mexican Mint Marigold Vinaigrette
Mexican Mint Marigold is one of my favorite plants – they’re tough, they bloom beautifully in the Fall, and they make an amazing salad dressing! Here’s a crunchy, all green salad that works great with the Texas Tarragon flavor. Let’s make the vinaigrette first so the flavors have a few minutes to marry while we […]
Why Fall is the Best Time to Plant Trees
We are lucky that we can garden year-round here in South Texas, but Fall is our best season for planting – especially for trees! Here’s why. Trees (shrubs and perennials, too) get a great bonus when planted in Fall. South Texas enjoys relatively warm soil temperatures through Fall and Winter, and cooler air temperatures direct […]
Pink Roses for Breast Cancer Awareness
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and a great time to plant roses! We partnered with FIRST FRIDAY, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to breast cancer awareness. From now until October 14th, when you buy any pink rose at Gill’s, 25% of your purchase is donated to FIRST FRIDAY. FIRST FRIDAY was formed by a […]
Grandpa Brown’s Multiplying Onions
Last week, local Skidmore farmer Allen Hudson brought in a batch of his very special onion sets. Those who have been around awhile haven’t seen a true multiplying onion here at Gill’s in years! It’s a tasty onion that you can plant year round, with a cool story that we wanted to share. Allen named […]
Any Minute Now – Be Ready for Fall Hummingbird Migration
We’re starting to see Ruby-throated hummingbirds make their way through for the Fall migration! These tiny birds are BIG eaters. They stop here in the Coastal Bend to fuel up before their non-stop flight across the Gulf of Mexico. Here’s how to host them in your backyard. Right now is a great time to plant […]
Don’t Miss Your Window to Plant Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the easiest vegetables to grow, but you need to get the timing right. Typically, you’d want to get them in the ground in August, but since it’s been so warm, it’s ok to wait until early to mid-September. But don’t wait longer than that! Here are a few tips for getting […]
September Garden Guide
Plant September is vegetable and seed month. There are numerous selections of vegetables to be started in the garden or in containers. Come in and pick up our fall vegetable guide. Tomatoes & Peppers Tomatoes and peppers can be planted through the middle of the month.Planting Guide: Our Tomato VarietiesRead: New! Grape Tomato ‘Ruby Crush’Read: Fall Tomatoes Herbs […]
Plant Something Interesting – Rare Seeds from Baker Creek
We are so happy to welcome Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds back to Gill’s! Baker Creek offers one of the largest selections of 19th century heirloom seeds from Europe and Asia, and their 2021 catalog contains about 1,000 varieties. Founder Jere Gettle started Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. in 1998 as a hobby in Mansfield, Missouri. […]
It’s Time to Get Started on Your Fall Garden
Right now is a very exciting time for us South Texas Gardeners. It doesn’t feel like it yet, but our Summer season is coming to a close, and our best growing season is right around the corner. That’s means it’s time to decide what you’re growing and get going! Here are our tips for getting […]
Is it a Bug or a Fungus?
We’re talking with customers everyday who are concerned that they have a fungus on their plants. My first thought is that it would be rare to have fungus this time of year since its so warm, windy, and dry. It’s much more likely to be a bug. Here’s how to identify and control. Is it […]
Summer Recipe: Grilled Okra with Lemon Tahini Drizzle
I love okra – in gumbo, raw, fried, pickled, and especially grilled. If you planted okra late Spring or early Summer, you’ve probably got a bunch ready to eat right now. Try this super simple okra dish – great as a side for just about anything, or by itself. Start with a couple big handfuls […]
August Garden Guide
Prepare Your Garden Spaces for Fall Planting Clean areas of unwanted weeds and debris. Break up the soil and add organic matter like Cotton Burr Compost, and turn or till it in. Mix in dried molasses and organic fertilizer like Medina Growin’ Green. Water and let it rest until you are ready to plant. Keep it watered […]
Got Caterpillars? No Worries!
We were watering Pentas earlier this week and came across this funky looking fellow (above). At first, we thought it was a more common Tomato Hornworm, but after doing some research, it’s a Tersa Sphinx (Xylophanes tersa) caterpillar! Actually, both in the photo are Tersa Sphinx caterpillars at different stages. Pretty soon they’ll transform into […]
Mosquito Battle 2021
With all the recent rains, mosquitos have invaded – bigtime! Spend more time enjoying the outdoors and less time swatting with these solutions. Get Rid of (or treat) Standing Water First of all, remove any sources of standing water (that’s where mosquitos breed). Dump out any pots or buckets that are holding water, and clear […]
Houseplant How-To’s
With all the recent rains, a lot of us are doing more indoor gardening and houseplant collecting. Here are our top houseplant how-to’s to help keep them happy inside. Light is Good, A/C is Bad Placement is a key factor in growing plants indoors. Some plants can handle less light than others, but we know […]
July Garden Guide
Watch: How to Collect a Grass Sample Lawn Care FERTILIZE Organic fertilizers such as Milorganite and Medina Growin Green are excellent fertilizers that feed plants and soil and are the best choice during hot, dry periods. LAY NEW SOD Lay new sod anytime, and Bermuda seed anytime this month. FIX YELLOW SPOTS Apply organic Nature’s Blend, or conventional Hi Yield Iron Plus to […]
Summer Watering Tips from The Pros at Gill’s
It’s officially Summer – don’t forget to hydrate your plants and yourself! Here are some useful watering tips from the plant pros to keep everything green and happy. DeAnna: New Trees are Thirsty I am hearing customers ask daily, “how often should I be watering my new tree?” We are watering trees twice a day […]
What the Pros Grow: Gill Staff’s Fav Plants at Home
We’re all plant geeks here at Gill’s. We spend time around plants all day, then go home and garden some more! We get excited to talk to each other about the plants we’re growing at home, so we thought it’d be fun to share with you too. Debbie’s Fiesta Hibiscus I’ve always loved hibiscus and […]
Still Scratching Your Head 4 Months Post-Freeze?
Still scratching your head 4 months post-freeze? Still trying to decide which direction to go with your landscape? You can visit Gill’s anytime and get guidance with your DIY landscape projects – here’s how. Our garden center team, rather than designers, are plant geeks: they know how particular plants grow, what plants like (sun/shade, wet/dry […]
Effective Natural Solutions for Mosquitoes
Recent rains are WONDERFUL for our gardens and landscapes, but they also bring unwanted pests: mosquitoes. Before dousing yourself and your gardens with chemical sprays, learn about using plants and other natural solutions that help repel these vampires and look beautiful in your outdoor space. Several edible and useful plants repel mosquitoes AND grow well […]
Control Pests AND Keep Bees Safe!
I always make it a point to garden in a way that works with nature and promotes life. Using the least toxic products when I have a problem or a pest in the garden is a big part of that equation. All pesticides and fungicides are killers, organic or not, so it is important to […]
Plants for Our Migrating Birds AND for You to Enjoy!
I think we all enjoy bird watching and even more this time of year with the variety of birds coming through. Just this week we’ve started to see Indigo and Painted Buntings, Scarlett Tanagers, and Warblers. James had a very odd thing happen this past weekend. He was out surfing at Packery Channel and a […]
Gill’s Spring Plant Food Menu
Just like us, plants can’t live on water alone. To thrive, plants must have food, especially in Spring when they are actively growing. Rather than try to carry every fertilizer imaginable (there are hundreds!), we focus on the ones that we can really stand behind. Here is our menu of favorite plant foods, tested and […]
Hummingbirds Need Your Help!
We’re starting to see hummingbirds make their way through for the Spring migration! These tiny birds are BIG eaters. They need to feed several times an hour and consume half their body weight in food each day. The February freeze damaged a large amount of the hummingbird’s food source, and the plants that are coming […]
April Garden Guide
Lawn Care Fertilize when the grass is actively growing Treat organically with Medina Growin’ Green or Milorganite. Organic lawn food is best for long-term root and soil health. Water in well (approximately 30 minutes per area). Eliminate broadleaf weeds Treat with Ortho Weed B Gon for Southern Lawns for broadleaf weeds, Image for grassy weeds and sticker burrs. Water lawn 2 days prior […]
Did the Freeze Open Doors for Change in Your Garden?
It’s been five weeks since the big freeze. As my yoga instructor, Gretchen Weber, said so well last night, the first few weeks was about mourning. Mourning the loss of big, beautiful, tropical plants that have abounded in our warmer-than-normal winters. Now we’re all in the recovery mode. Some have been quicker on the draw […]
Wyatt’s Planting Basics [VIDEO]
Since the freeze, we’ve all been busy cleaning up, waiting for some plants to recover, AND lots of new planting. We thought it would be helpful to go over some basic planting tips to be sure your plants get off to a strong start.
Citrus Tree Planting Guide [VIDEO]
Many citrus trees around the Coastal Bend appear damaged after Winter Storm Uri. For citrus trees you want to try and save, the best thing to do right now is wait and see. Some may be goners, some may bounce back, and others may have delayed effects from the freeze. It may still be weeks […]
Steps You Need to Take to Help Your Damaged Plants and Lawn
Our first reaction to make it all better is to water our grass and plants. Do not water unless the ground is close to dry. Watering damaged plants will encourage fungal and bacterial growth, which we want to avoid. Stick your finger in the soil and check for moisture. If it is moist, do not water yet. […]
Freeze Remedy: Palm Trees [VIDEO]
Several varieties of palm trees likely suffered damage in the Big Freeze of ‘21. Some may recover, and some may not. Here are some things you can look for and steps you can take right now.
Freeze Remedy – Stage 1
Over the next few weeks, we will be addressing the freeze damage to plants which everyone has suffered. We are working on a video giving easy to follow instructions about what to prune and how. It is not critical, and in fact, may be too early, to start most pruning immediately. If you have palm […]
Grow Food Everywhere – James Gill’s Intro to Container Gardening
You can grow food just about anywhere in just about any container! Join James Gill as he discusses the benefits of container gardening and demonstrates how to get the best harvest. We’re very excited to present this video in collaboration with Grow Local South Texas.
Pre-Spring Weed Explosion – Act Now, Less Work Later!
They’re coming – weeds! Due to our relatively warm Winter and recent rains, weeds are sprouting earlier than usual. Control them now before they get out of hand – here’s how. Weeds in Lawns Start simple instead of going directly to battle mode. If your lawn is stressed, think about using a good organic like […]
TONE Up Your Garden with Our Favorite Organic Plant Food
Plant fertilizers are much like food for us, the healthier the meal, the greater benefits. That’s why we love organic Espoma plant foods. We use them in our own gardens and recommend them to customers all the time – they work! Each “Tone” (Plant-Tone, Citrus-Tone, Bio-Tone) product is a complex blend of long-lasting natural ingredients […]
Don’t Forget to Feed Your Citrus Trees!
We’re lucky in South Texas to be able to add citrus trees to our gardens with great success. Lemons, limes, oranges, grapefruit, kumquats, and more thrive here and produce lots of fruit with the right care – if you feed them, they feed you! Now’s the time. Here’s our recommended method. We love organic CitrusTone […]
James’ Tips for Preventing Winter Lawn Fungus
Brown patch/Large patch fungus and Take-all Root Rot (TARR) are two unwelcome Fall and Winter visitors to our South Texas lawns. Cool nighttime temperatures and moisture on the grass from rain, dew, or excessive watering frequency are the two main factors promoting these diseases. Large patch is relatively easy to diagnose visually if you are […]
Care Tips for Classic Holiday Plants
We love this time of year here in the garden center, and we want to make sure you get the very best out of your holiday classics! So, we made a list of quick care tips to help you out, and included some fun facts about each plant: Poinsettias Place in indirect sunlight, indoors or […]
From Garden Passion to Community Giving
I’ve admired BJ and Michael’s home for years. It’s a beautiful Santa Fe style stucco home with a clay tile roof and old dark stained wood front doors. The landscape follows the theme with brightly colored benches and ceramic containers mixed with artistically placed specimen agaves, yuccas, and palms. This past week a group of […]
Congratulations Are in Order!
Join us Friday, November 20th at 4:30PM outside in the garden center as we thank our team members for their many years of service to Gill’s & our community! DeAnna Baumgartner Garden Center Manager 35 Years! Gary Cring Gardening Expert 31 Years & Retiring! Debbie Pinkerton Buyer 25 Years! Doug Johnson Landscape Crew Leader 20 […]
Healthy Veggie Plants, but No Veggies – What’s the Problem?
This past week, one of our customers explained that her squash plant had great foliage and lots of blooms, but it was not producing any squash. This can often be attributed to a watering or fertilizer issue, but sometimes you might have a pollination problem. So, what’s the solution? Bees! Bees are the best pollinators, and […]
Collaborative, Holistic Landscape Design
Akasha Yoga is a great example of a collaborative design between property owners and Gill’s landscape designer Harry Villarreal. The owners’ vision for Akasha was to harmonize and integrate the indoor and outdoor spaces. To compliment the modern interior design, the owners used earthy, grounding updates to the exterior including the wooden sign, steel planter […]