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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
May Garden Guide
Plant Sunny areas: Zinnias, Periwinkles, Moss Rose, Purslane, Lantana, Blue Daze, False Heather, Salvia, Ice Plant, Gomphrena, Ruellia, Coreopsis, Pentas Shady areas: Caladiums, Coleus, Begonias, Ageratum, Shrimp Plant, Torenia, Agapanthus, Snowbush […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
March Garden Guide
What To Plant Most annuals and perennials can now be purchased as transplants this month. Here is a list of some of our favorites: (L-R) caladiums (plants and bulbs), larkspur, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
February Garden Guide
What To Plant Vegetable Seeds Beans, beets, broccoli, carrots, collards, dill, lettuce, mustard, parsley, Swiss chard and turnips Herbs, onions, & seed potatoesGarden Guide: Updated – Vegetable Planting Dates Vegetable […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
January Garden Guide
What To Plant All hardy trees, shrubs, vines, fruit trees, and roses can be planted now. Even citrus trees can be planted now, but they’re best in large pots in […]
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. […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
July Garden Guide
Watch: How to Collect a Grass Sample Plant All container grown trees, shrubs, and vines It’s prime time to plant tropicals such as hibiscus, bougainvillea, ginger and palms. Late spring and […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
April Garden Guide
What To Plant Late spring/summer blooming annuals and perennials: For sunny areas:Zinnias, periwinkles, moss rose, purslane, lantana, blue daze, false heather, salvia, ice plant, gomphrena, ruellia, coreopsis, and pentas.Read: Create Your […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
