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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Plant and Use Fall Herbs and Flowers Together
There’s an abundant palette of garden herbs & flowers that thrive when planted in Fall. No need to keep them separated – pair them together for the perfect garden to […]
Wyatt’s Veggie Vlog Part 3: Transplanting Cool Weather Crops
It’s Wyatt again – welcome to part 3 of my Fall Veggie Vlog. I decided to start all my cool weather veggies this year from seed and share video tips […]
Coastal Bend Veggie Gardening Guide
Grow Local South Texas and Gill’s share a passion for organic vegetable gardening and helping local gardeners be successful growing their own food. Here in South Texas we have 2 […]
Fall Flowers Right Around the Corner!
Are you as anxious as I am to replace your summer annuals with lush Fall color? I bet yes!! Our guide below (click here for the printable version) shows the […]
Prepping for the Flood That’s Coming (maybe)
With quite a bit of rain in the forecast, what should we do? Let’s start with getting excess water off the roof and out of the yard. The short recent […]
Mike’s Waterlilies and Frogs at Nelson Water Gardens
Next time you’re in the Houston area, stop by Nelson Water Gardens & Nursery in Katy – you won’t regret it. The Nelsons (Anita, Rolf and family) are good friends […]
Wyatt’s Fall Veggie Vlog: Part 2 – Starting Veggies from Seed
Beautiful Fall weather is ahead and it’s time to get started planting veggies! I’ve decided to expand my veggie garden at home and invite you all to follow me this […]
Wyatt’s Fall Veggie Vlog: Part 1 – Prepping a Veggie Garden Bed
Beautiful Fall weather is ahead and it’s time to get started planting veggies! I’ve decided to expand my veggie garden at home and invite you all to follow me this […]
Magnificent and Mystical Baobab Trees of Madagascar
Six years ago, my wife Sally and I traveled to Madagascar, a beautiful and fascinating island off the southeast coast of Africa. Home to lemurs, Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches, incredibly bejeweled […]
Gills’ Soil Recipe for Raised Garden Beds
Raised beds are great for veggie, herb, and flower gardening. Benefits include reducing weeds, help with drainage, easy maintenance, and easier on your back. We’ve seen really cool raised beds […]
Important Tips for Keeping Your Landscape Storm-Ready
Now that we’ve weathered our first big storm this season, we’re cleaning up and thinking about how to be better prepared next time. Here are some important tips for keeping […]
Summer Succulent Tips
Summertime is a great time for succulents. We’ve got a big selection of fun and unusual varieties for lots of color and texture combinations. Check out our quick video and […]
Watch Out for These 3 Summer Lawn Pests
In the past few weeks, lots of customers have been bringing us grass samples and photos of their lawns with tell-tale signs of 3 of the most common summertime pests: […]
Saharan Dust – Bad for Your Plants?
From 10,000 to 5000 years ago, the Sahara Desert was wet, green, and covered with lakes! Over those thousands of years, minerals precipitated out of the water and were deposited […]
Summer Garden Transition – Keep Something Growing!
It’s transition time for South Texas backyard farmers. It’s good to remove your tired plants that have finished their growing cycles, yet bare ground in the Summer can turn into […]
Pro Tips for Potting Plants
The Potting Shed is up and running at Gill’s, so we thought we’d go over a few pro tips to help ensure success with indoor and outdoor potted plants. 1. […]
Crucial Watering Tips for South Texas Summer
Summer heat is here, and proper watering is crucial for good plant health! A dry, stressed plant loses young feeder roots and is the first to be attacked by insects. […]
Effective Natural Solutions for Repelling Mosquitoes
Recent rains are WONDERFUL for our gardens and landscapes, but they also bring unwanted pests: mosquitoes. Before dousing yourself and your gardens with sprays, learn about using plants and other […]
Protect Garden-Friendly Creatures
On occasion, we hear new gardeners (kids and adults) being fearful of the creatures that live in our outdoor spaces. Almost everyone loves birds & butterflies – I’m talking about […]
Easy to Grow, Happy in Your Home – Zinnias!
As a young girl, I loved going out into the garden and cutting Zinnia flowers. They were such prolific bloomers and in so many different colors – reds, salmons, roses, […]
Memorable 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 something memorable for Mom! Here are a few ideas. […]
COVID-19 Update
COVID-19 Health and Safety Practices: If you’re feeling sick, please do not come in Face coverings required Only enter in groups of 1 or 2 Maintain a 6ft. physical distance from others Wash […]
Plant Texas Natives to Support Wildlife
Choosing Texas native plants provides you with a beautiful, resilient landscape, and provides native wildlife with food and habitat. Native plants attract hummingbirds, butterflies, bees, lizards, frogs – all of […]
What’s Eating My Food Garden? 3 Bad Bugs, 1 Solution
These three insect groups are or will be the source of many gardeners’ angst this Spring. All three can do serious damage to food gardens from chowing on leaves to […]
Fun and Festive Virtual Gatherings
Family holidays, like Easter this Sunday, are different this year. BUT, special meals and (virtual) gatherings with family and friends are still on! We’re offering reduced pricing on in-town delivery […]
Now’s the Time for Food, Flowers, and Fresh Air
As we continue to monitor public health guidance and talk to our friends at other garden centers across the country, we’re reminded how important gardening is right now, at a […]
3 Steps to Great Grass
Spring is in full swing and everyone is ready to get their lawn and landscape in shape for the season. Take these 3 steps to healthy grass that looks and […]
Pro Planting Tip: Not Too Deep!
Whether you are potting up new flowers for Spring or planting a new veggie garden, proper planting depth is critical to the success of your plant. All plants have surface […]
Gardening for Newcomers with James Gill and Wyatt Page
We have a passion for teaching and seeing your gardening success, and we know that gardening can seem challenging to the beginner since there’s so much to learn. That’s also […]
Keith’s Swiss Chard Success Story
Last week Keith shared with me his Swiss Chard success story. Years ago, he remembers (I don’t) James and I gave Sandy & Keith a pot of Swiss Chard for […]
Get Your Tools Sharpened!
Thanks to your appreciation for good sharp tools, tool sharpening is now an everyday service here! Bring ‘em now for Spring projects. Pruners, loppers, & axes: $10 ea Hedge shears: […]
Get Ready for Spring – James’ Tips for Lawns, Pruning, and Citrus
James Gill had his annual Get Ready for Spring garden talk here at Gill’s last weekend. As always, it was a big hit – standing room only! In case you […]
Grateful for 2019 and Excited for 2020!
We’re grateful for each other, our growers and suppliers, and most of all – YOU! We’re excited about 2020 and continuing to bring you the best. Happy Holidays and Happy […]
A Sure Lift to the Spirits
Even though I love flowers in the garden all year long, for sure Fall and Winter annuals are my favorite. I think it’s because they thrive in cooler temperatures (just […]
Quick Care Tips for Your 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 favorites! So, we made […]
Who Knew – Another South Texas Treasure at our Backdoor!
Our son Trevor flew in this week from the Northwest for a week of family time. One of his favorite pastimes in Portland, Oregon is disc golf. Who knew, Ingleside, […]
Treat For Take-All Patch In Lawns
If your lawn is showing symptoms of this disease (see last week’s blog), you can treat with Disease EX fungicide with the active ingredient Azoxystrobin. Or treat organically by top […]
Protect Your Lawn – Recent Take-All Root Rot Sightings
Take-All Root Rot (TARR), or Take-All Patch, is a serious fungal disease affecting St. Augustine and Bermuda grass lawns in the Coastal Bend. I have diagnosed 4 cases in the […]
Get Your Greens! Sally’s Kale Smoothie Recipe
Over the years, my trough garden has seen mostly flowers and herbs. I’ve tried tomatoes a few times, but this year I decided to try kale. I started eating kale […]
You Gotta Do It… Fertilize Now… For A Beautiful Lawn & Garden!
Feeding your lawn and garden during Fall (mid-September thru early November) provides the nutrients needed for Fall & Winter; AND a healthy start for next Spring. While the soil […]
Larry’s Organic Veggie Garden
My two goals for my garden are to only use organics and to constantly be eating! Check out the harvest: wax beans, eggplant, cucumbers, banana peppers, tangerine peppers, purple string […]
Burr Oak – an Awesome South Texas Tree
The Burr Oak is one of the fastest-growing and largest of all the Oaks in Texas. Aside from Cottonwoods, Burr Oaks are the only deciduous tree in Texas that can […]
Tips For Beautiful Flowers
As the Fall season comes around, so does a breath of new flowers to plant. Annuals like Impatiens, Violas, Begonia, Petunias, Snapdragons, & Lobelia are some local favorites. Warm days […]
Best Tips for Planting Trees this Fall
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 […]
How to Fuel Your Hungry Hummingbirds
If you spend any time outdoors and have anything blooming red, there’s a good chance you’ve got hummingbirds buzzing around. It’s that time of year when hummers begin their migratory […]
Organic Gardening Tips: Feed Your Soil First
“Organic gardening” is a broad term that in its simplest form means caring for your garden or landscape without the use of synthetic fertilizers or harsh pesticides, but for many […]
It’s Time For Fall Tomatoes!
Tomatoes are by far the most sought-after fruit in the country, and we are lucky to have two growing seasons to enjoy their goodness! It’s time to get your fall […]
Indoor Gardening: EZ as a ZZ!
While there’s plenty of prep to be done outside, why not add some fresh green to your indoors too? Check out ZZ plants (Zamioculcas Zamiifolia). It’s tough and easy, making […]
Coming Soon… Food To Grow!
We’re all ready to start our edible gardens. Early veggies & herbs are coming next week beginning August 13th! Starting with fresh peppers, tomatoes, and herbs that can take summer […]
Creating Spaces To Gather, Have Fun, Relax & Retreat!
At Gill’s, we spend our days designing private gardens, courtyards, backyards – places for families to gather, have fun, relax and retreat. We’re so happy to see our downtown Corpus […]
Top 5 Must Do’s for August
August is the homestretch to that next great planting season…Fall! So, no surprise August is about getting ready for cooler days ahead while keeping everything hydrated and pretty. Check out […]
Comfort for Summer: Shade Cloth!
Looking for some summer relief? Shade cloth easily reduces air temperatures and allows air flow. It can be as easy as tacking a piece to a wood frame or structure. […]
Weird and Wild Conversation Plants at Gill’s!
Are you looking for a conversation plant? Something out of the ordinary? Well check out these weird and wild plants to spark a conversation with all your plant friends! Dwarf […]
Come Relax in The Nursery!
Be Inspired! Take a stroll around our garden, enjoy the sounds of water & nature, discover the beauty a summer landscape has to offer! Rest under one of our shade […]
Summer Bugs: To Treat or Not to Treat?
Webbing on tree bark, white stuff on plants, & what’s cutting circles in my leaves? Bark Lice: Good We get lots of calls about webbing on tree trunks this time […]
Unique Port A History: The Farley Boat Planters
On Mother’s Day, James and I got up before the sun to head to the beach to catch some early morning waves at Packery. After an hour or so, as […]
Mr. Rogers’ Day of Kindness: Update!
A few weeks ago, we held an event in the garden center in honor of Mr. Rogers’ Day of Kindness. We gave away small flowering plants to kids for them […]
Happy Father’s Day – The Gill’s Team Remembers Gardening with Dad!
This Father’s Day weekend, several members of the Gill’s team take time to share a fond memory of gardening, landscaping, or just being out in nature with their dads. Happy […]
Staff Pick: Stacy’s Monarch Butterflies
I’m usually hard at work in the accounting office here at Gill’s, but I’m the first one outside to greet a new truck of plants to pick things to try […]
Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
This Saturday, May 25th, bring the kids and we will give them a small blooming plant for them to give to a friend or relative in need of a little […]
Staff Picks: Wyatt’s Vitex Tree
As we get into summertime, there are quite a few blooming plants that have yet to show their color. When I first moved into my apartment, I always wondered what […]
Mother’s Day Message in a Bottle!
Years ago, my mother-in-law, Ruth Bayne Gill, aka “Bayne”, bought a parcel of land on Mill Creek, between Vanderpool and Medina, Texas. It’s a beautiful piece of Texas Hill Country, […]
Possumhaw: No Flashy Blooms, but Oh My Gosh, What Pleasure This Tree Brings Me!
James and I have a small courtyard off our kitchen and master bath, thanks to an architect friend’s brilliant idea some 20 years ago. Once construction was complete, James laid […]
It’s Arbor Day – Find the Right Trees and Start Planting!
The saying goes “the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago, the second-best time is now.” Well we say it is always time to plant a tree! […]
Enjoy Your Time with Family and Friends!
With Passover starting Friday & Easter this Sunday, many will be gathering with family & friends to cook, eat, play games, and visit. Wonderful times for relaxing outside! We’ve filled […]
Free Soil Testing Program
The City of Corpus Christi and Texas Agrilife Extension have joined together for a free soil testing campaign. Have you had your soil tested lately? If not, please take advantage […]
Landscape Designer Kathy Hubner’s National Recognition
We are excited to share that Kathy Hubner, one of our landscape designers here at Gill Landscape Nursery, has become only the second Texan and first from Corpus Christi to […]
Free Soil Testing Program
The City of Corpus Christi and Texas Agrilife Extension have joined together for a free soil testing campaign. Have you had your soil tested lately? If not, please take advantage […]
Caterpillar Alert!
I have had several customers bring me Tussock Moth Caterpillars they found munching on their oak tree leaves. The creamy white hairs on the caterpillar are long and bristle-like and […]
No Sun Needed for Instant Feel Good in the Garden!
As the spring equinox arrives, I’m wondering if Mr. Sunshine is ever coming back from his southern hemisphere vacation? Well, there’s no time to wait for the sun; I’m making […]
Beneficial Bugs to Safely Eliminate Pests!
Spring is here again, and as plants and flowers wake up, so do unwanted guests such as aphids and fleas. Some of the most effective ways to eliminate these pests […]
Spring Break Project: Gardening with Kids!
We’ve met so many kids over the years (as young as 10 months old) who really get a kick out of gardening. While kids and teachers are on a much-needed […]
Staff Picks: Barbara’s Mangave
Mangave, a hybrid of the Agave and Manfreda, is a beautiful and easy plant that stands out, requires little maintenance, and does not have any spines or points. They are […]
New Organic Potting Soil for 2019!
We are now pleased to offer Nature’s Creation Organic Potting Soil with Mycorrhizal Fungi for our 2019 garden season! Some of our good friends in the green industry, Mr. […]
Debbie’s Backyard Bounty
It’s harvest time around my house and I have to admit the bounty is big this winter. This past fall, I planted later than usual (Oct 13th) due to rainy […]
What Does Xeriscape Mean to You?
What does Xeriscape mean to you? Cactus and rocks? Yes, it could be that, but it can be much more! Texas native plants? Yes, many Texas natives fit a xeriscape, […]
Looking Sharp for Spring!
Each year in January and February, I give my pre-spring “Get Ready for Spring” garden talk. I always start the talk with pre-spring pruning and the importance of sharp tools. […]
Plants, The Perfect Rx For Clean Air!
There are a wide variety of pollutants released in your home by furniture, paint, carpet, household cleansers, even gas cooktops and hot water in the shower, that can trigger illnesses, […]
Trimming Ornamental Grasses
The last week of January to first week of February is the best time to prune ornamental grasses. New spring growth will not emerge properly and abundantly if plants are […]
Why Is There Mold On My Citrus?
It’s the time of year we are scurrying around the garden, picking delicious ripening citrus. Perfect gift giving for the holidays! A few days ago, I noticed that some of […]
Quick Weed Clean-up Before The Guests Arrive!
A friend texted me this week-end and asked how she can get rid of her winter weeds. Probably like everyone, she’s getting ready for her family to arrive! She has […]
Flowering Cabbage & Kale, Another Winter Treasure!
Spectacular is the best word for Flowering Cabbage & Kale, with its purple hues on sage green leaves. These ornamentals are in the same family as edible cabbage and kale, […]
Succulents – Our Winter Surprise!
Just when you think things are going monochromatic for the winter, a bright stalk appears in the landscape, then another and another… the aloe plants have gone into bloom. Torches of red, […]
Living Christmas Trees
There are some great alternatives to cut Christmas trees. Norfolk Island Pines are one of the most popular because of their look. They are layered like many fir trees and […]
All About Poinsettias!
How to Care for Your Poinsettias Place the plant in an area where it will receive as much indirect light as possible and do not place it in a draft. Should […]
How to Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh and Beautiful!
It’s a wonderful crazy time each year as we ready for the arrival of Christmas trees. This year they are extra pretty and fresh! We look forward to helping you […]
It’s Time for Paperwhites & Amaryllis!
It’s time to think about getting your fall bulbs. Amaryllis is one of the easiest bulbs to grow that will bloom for you year after year. They can be planted in […]
Garden Talks
Join us on Saturday mornings for Gill Garden Talks! Check out the season schedule and join us in the garden for expert advice from our awesome staff.
We design and install, you enjoy!
Gill Landscape Design and Installation
