Two Steps To Cold Weather Preparedness
1. Water. Make sure all plants are watered thoroughly before a cold front blows in, especially a dry cold front. You will also have to water after the cold front, […]
Secrets Under The Dark Side Of The Moon
Root veggies like carrots, beets, potatoes and onions make for a great fall and winter crop, but there are a few things to be said about them in order to […]
Plant Flowers Now For Winter WOW!
We’ve finally had some great sunshine! So, with the time change this weekend and cooler temps, it’s the best time to get your fall and winter flowers planted. Planting now […]
Fall Is Wildflower Planting Time
That first cool front in fall 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 […]
Army Worms In Your Lawn – You Can Treat…Or Not
Army worms are common every fall with little notice from homeowners. Rarely do they do much damage to lawns and plants but sometimes the weather is just right and they […]
Fall Lawn Care
Lawn’s green, no weeds, so why do anything? Our lawns are so green after all this rain! You’re probably thinking “Well shoot, do I have to fertilize or worry about […]
Gill’s Celebrates 40 Bloomin’ Years!
This Saturday, October 6th, Gill Landscape Nursery invites the community to come celebrate with our staff 40 Bloomin’ Years in business! Enter to win Gill’s gift cards, enjoy a cool […]
Diversity By Design!
An International Landscape Conference Worth Traveling 3,000 Miles to Experience! That’s right, last week I flew 3,000 miles round trip to Toronto, Canada to meet with 137 landscape design colleagues […]
What To Do About Waterlogged Plants?
We have less control over our plants during prolonged periods of rain or flooding than during drought. Unless they are in moveable containers, there is little we can do except […]
Food for Our Hummingbirds!
Whether your hummingbirds are just passing through or they’re residents to our area, you can be sure they’re hungry! Hummingbirds are most attracted to orange & red blooming plants with […]
Too Much Rain?
We’ve had abundant, much needed rain this past week! Soils are well hydrated. There may be issues with too much rain with the forecast of more tropical downpours coming over […]
Now That’s Some Good Food!
Growing food is all the trend as farmers markets, farm to table restaurants, and the phrase “locally grown” gives credit that the food will be the freshest available! But to […]
Planning Your Perfect Landscape
What can a well-planned landscape do for you? First it gives you a place to retreat from hectic daily schedules. Studies confirm the benefits of getting outside at least fifteen […]
Is it time to start your veggies? You bet!
It’s the best time to plant your early fall veggies and herbs! Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, eggplant, and zucchini have plenty of time to produce a nice harvest. Fresh herbs like […]
Looking For New Plants, New Ideas, New Solutions At Texas Nursery & Landscape Association Show!
As gardeners, we know you want the most up to date solutions and newest plant varieties that will thrive in our part of South Texas. That’s why we make a […]
Ready, Set, Get Your Garden Going!
Yes, it is time to begin preparing the vegetable gardens for your tomatoes and peppers! Work in Cotton Burr compost or Natures Blend to enrich your garden for the new […]
More on Whitefly
Last week James and I were visiting some friends of ours, Anita & Rolf Nelson, also in the garden center business. They own Nelson’s Water Gardens in Katy, Texas. Anita […]
My Sunshine Flower!
I get my green thumb from my sweet, sweet grandma. She was an avid organic gardener long before the term was coined. Her beautiful vegetable and flower gardens mesmerized me […]
Whitefly, Oh My!
Saturday morning, I went out into my cutting garden to harvest some fresh zinnia and sunflower blooms for our home. Upon touching the stems, I was immediately swarmed with whitefly. […]
What A Stark Contrast!
What a stark contrast! The owners of these three homes in Denver, one next to the other, each have a very different look. The home on the bottom has grass, […]
Easy and Spectacular… Bromeliads!
I was blown away by the bromeliads that came in our last order from Florida. I wasn’t shopping for anything new but couldn’t resist their breathtaking beauty. Sometimes you’re only […]
Bees In Action At Gill’s!
Because we have a lot of flowers and reservoirs of water at Gill’s, we also have a wonderfully large population of butterflies, dragonflies and bees. This past 4th of July, […]
A Little Gem & Generous Gift!
We were walking with our family in West Seattle on Harbor Avenue, looking across Puget Sound to downtown Seattle. The esplanade opposite the water was lined with multi-level, concrete condominiums, […]
Mosquito Solutions
With all the recent rains, mosquitoes are here. First of all, remove any sources of standing water (that’s where they breed). For your favorite birdbath, use Mosquito Bits in the […]
A Few More Summer Tips
If your watering hose is in the sun, make sure to let the water run through for a little while before watering your plants. Hot hoses make for hot water! […]
Got Webbing on Your Trees?
It is not webworms! Webbing on the bark of trunks and branches is a good thing. Don’t spray!! Bark lice is natures clean-up crew. These tiny creatures are scouring the […]
Two Sprinklers, One Water Faucet!
Water! It’s a vital part of having a healthy lawn and landscape. Rain is always our best source of water but since summer is here and rain is scarce, I […]
Is Your Lawn and Landscape Prepared for Summer?
Watering slow and deep but not too often is the key to a strong and deep root system. By contrast, frequent, short watering encourages roots to stay shallow, in a […]
Crape Myrtle Choices For South Texas!
There are many different varieties of Crape Myrtles but a limited number that thrive in South Texas. With the proper cultivar and proper placement, they will provide color and form […]
Texas Grape Rootstock Saves French Vineyards!
Wine production seems to have started in the upper regions of the Middle East, i.e. Armenia, Iran, Turkey, and as the ages went by, continued on to Greece and then […]
Got webbing on your trees?
It is not webworms! Webbing on the bark of trunks and branches is a good thing. Don’t spray!! Bark lice is natures clean-up crew. These tiny creatures are scouring the […]
Bee Friendly!
You may have asked yourself at some point in your botanical endeavors, what makes the plant world go around, especially for blooming plants? Bees are the answer, and are undeniably […]
Lacebugs on Lantana
Are your lantana looking rusty brown like a fungus has attacked them? Well it’s not a fungus it’s a lace bug. These are common this time of year to attack […]
Hamelia (aka Firebush): Another Winning Landscape Plant!
Left: Hamelia Patens; Center: Lime Sizzler Hamelia What a great diverse shrub for the landscape. Super easy to grow, drought tolerant, and they are another hummingbird favorite! Firebush comes in […]
Bugs Bugs Everywhere!
You would think with our cold winter, snow and 2 freezes in the 20’s all the insects would have frozen. But no, there seems to be an explosion of nature’s […]
Success with Periwinkles (aka Vinca!)
Now that the weather is getting warmer, it is finally periwinkle time. Periwinkles are a great annual that thrive in our hot summers and keep going into the fall. My […]
New Tree Do’s & Don’ts
Do plant the tree at the right depth, with the top of the root ball as high or slightly higher than surrounding soil. Do eliminate competition from lawn by clearing the grass out […]
Purple Knight Alternanthera – another one of Sally’s favorites!
We planted the Purple Knight Alternanthera, in the Joseph Coat family, under our Texas Sabal Palms out front of our home on Catalina Street. It has proven its worth to […]
A Letter from Bob
“Good morning, my name is Bob. I have been coming to Gill’s since moving to Corpus 5 years ago. Every time we come into the store, my wife does the […]
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 […]
Garden Treats For Your Family Time
With Passover starting Friday & Easter this Sunday, many will be gathering with family & friends to eat, play games and visit. Wonderful times! We’ve filled our store with beautiful […]
JUNE BUGS EVERYWHERE!
Did you know grubworms come from June bugs? Many folks are reporting seeing June bugs all over the porch since the first of March. They are making their mating flight […]
With The Spring Flush Comes Insects!
Are you challenged with caterpillars, leafminers or whitefly every year? On your bougainvillea, hibiscus, ash or oak trees? If so, now’s the time to apply Bayer Tree & Shrub Drench. […]
St. Augustine Turf Grass: Varieties We Sell & Their Characteristics
Floratam Pro- Good drought tolerance, better disease tolerance, vigorous growth quick to heal damage and resist weeds Con- Less shade tolerant than some varieties, less tolerant of some weed killers, […]
Birds, Butterflies, and Bees
March 8, 2018/gillnursery/Comments Off on Birds, Butterflies, and Bees
Be Proactive Against Pests by Being Dormant
Spring is upon us once again and with that comes the flush of new growth followed by the awakening of hungry insects! One good product to help keep your new young […]
Grape Soda Pop Delight!
Driving around town, one surely has noticed the purple blooming trees and if you were within nose shot, their fragrance would make you think of grape soda pop hanging from […]
Does Your Lawn Look as Bad as Mine?
Wow! Snow and 2 hard freezes has really hurt my lawn. The only thing growing are the weeds. The weather is now warm enough, but not quite sunny enough to […]
Time For 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 spring […]
My Lawn Has A Weed Explosion!
Even though your lawn has filled with weeds it is not too late to apply a pre-emergent. The weeds you have now will put on a flower and drop seeds […]
Tips for Indoor Gardening
We had a great garden talk last Saturday about plants for the indoors from Margaret Hicks, owner of Charlie Cook Associates in Dallas. Below are some of her top tips […]
Freeze Damage on Your Plumeria, Crown of Thorns, or Desert Rose?
Lots of folks will find freeze damage on some of their favorite tropical blooming succulents. Neglecting these damaged plants may not mean the end of them, but most of us […]
Looking for the Best… Always!
About this time of year, every year, we visit our Texas plant growers. This year we took them Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies, as a thank you for shipping us […]
Freeze? No Problem!
The last few months have given us a roller coaster ride of weather events. Freezes, snow, record wind chills, sleet; winter has been much like…winter. We are all itching to get outside and start our gardening but perhaps a little leery of planting.
Thank Goodness for Our “Numbers People”!
No, numbers aren’t the most glamorous part of a successful garden center, restaurant or sporting goods store. It’s the plants, food and surf boards. That’s why we shop in those […]
Freeze Alert! (January 2-3, 2018)
Looks like we will be seeing some cold temperatures, probably upper 20’s, on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Having already been through some cold snaps this winter, your plants should have already slowed their metabolism, […]
Myer Lemons: Best Lemon Yogurt Cake Recipe
This year for Christmas we mailed 9 boxes of Myer lemons to family & friends around the country with our favorite lemon yogurt cake recipe. The Myer lemon is native […]
Joey’s Patio Cheer!
Joey, who works with us at Gill’s, wanted some color on his front porch to greet visitors. He lives in an apartment so space is limited. He loves purple and […]
Fun Time at The San Antonio Botanical Gardens!
Sally and I recently tripped up to “San Antone” to celebrate my sister Marie’s 70th. So much to see and do, but since all three of us are “plant people”, […]
Brilliant Blooms with Geraniums!
We just received a nice selection of geraniums for last minute planting in your garden for the holidays! Ours are the zonal “Fantasia” variety with large ball shaped clusters of […]
Weather Notice – December 7, 2017
We have lots of calls coming in about how this cold weather will affect plants. Winter is here, but the results won’t be too brutal for most. Some areas of […]
Poinsettia Care
Poinsettias come in lots of colors and sizes, but all love to be kept in indirect light and very moist. Place inside, in front of a window and away from […]
Giving Thanks For a Family of Gardeners!
We have customers of all ages. Maybe two of our youngest gardeners, very active gardeners, are brother and sister Kai & Isla. Kai is a third grader and Isla a […]
How To Get Your Christmas Cactus To Bloom!
My Christmas Cactus from last year is nice & healthy but not a bud on it. To force blooming, move the pot into a dark spot, like a closet, for […]
Holiday Goodies Are Coming In!!
We know it’s still early November, but we couldn’t resist! You have to see all the cute cute holiday decor we have coming in… happy (almost) holidays!!
Got Lawn Weeds?
Now is the time of year to attack those unwanted weeds in the lawn. First, fertilize the lawn in October to mid-November while the grass is still actively growing. Water […]
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Lawn Care
October 26, 2017/gillnursery/Comments Off on Lawn Care
Garden Design
October 26, 2017/gillnursery/Comments Off on Garden Design
Veggies, Fruits, & Herbs
October 20, 2017/gillnursery/Comments Off on Veggies, Fruits, & Herbs
Oak Tree Caterpillars (October, 2017)
Oak Tree Caterpillars Be on the look-out for oak tree caterpillars in your oak trees. They cluster together in large groups feeding on the leaves of your trees or you […]
Tips for Preserving Herbs
“Many herbs are easily preserved by drying, and hold their flavor well when dry. Simply cut a handful of stems and rubber band them or tie them together with a […]
Watch Out for Sod Webworms in Lawns
Have you noticed little white moths flying in the grass as you water? Perhaps a flock a birds pecking in the lawn? Both of these could be a sign of […]
Our Staff is What You Like Best!
Back in May, we invited you to tell us what you like most about Gill’s. Of the 405 responses, 294 said that what you like most is our people!
Top Five Tips for a Beautiful Fall Lawn
1. Fertilize in Fall. It’s great to fertilize in spring, and again early summer, but fall fertilization is probably the most important of all, and the most neglected. September 15 to […]
Best Timing For Popular Fall Veggies
September It’s not too late to get your squash, cucumber and beans seeds in the ground for a fall crop. It’s important to get them up and going before a […]
Boston Beautiful!
For years I’ve requested an APLD (Assoc. of Professional Landscape Designers) Conference in Boston. I’d heard it was a beautiful city with lovely architecture and I knew there had to […]
Nasturtiums – Super Pretty & Easy! (Yummy too!)
It’s always fun and rewarding to find those plants that take care of themselves with just a little help from your hands. Say hello to nasturtiums! This simple edible is […]
It’s Time to Fertilize for Fall
Anytime between mid-September to mid-November 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 […]
Hummer Update!
In the wake of Hurricane Harvey, a local gardener shared these words regarding the hummingbird migration that is beginning now. We are passing them along to you. Good advice….thank you […]
Impatiens Update for Fall
Impatiens have been a favorite fall, winter, early spring blooming plant, but the Impatiens walleriana variety we have most commonly sold has developed a problem. Downy mildew has affected walleriana […]
Help For Your Storm-Damaged Landscape
Plants have thrived through hurricanes and worse for around 500 million years. Most of your plants will come back fine, and for those you lose, something new will grow, with […]
Garden Guide: Tomato Varieties
This guide describes the tomatoes we carry, number of days to harvest (yum!), whether they produce all at once or over a period of time and what disease resistances they […]
New! Grape Tomato ‘Ruby Crush’
We are excited about a new tomato variety arriving at our store this week….check it out! “This new grape tomato variety is blazing a new trail in the tomato world! […]
Weather Alert: Steps You Can Take Now to Avoid Possible Flooding
We are likely to get some rain starting Thursday from this tropical wave. It might be a little, or it might be a lot. If you have any concerns about […]
Why Botanical Interests is Our Favorite Seed Company
Over the years we have tried different seed companies and have found Botanical Interests to be our favorite. Being family owned and operated, we share a common goal of inspiring […]
Summer Watering 101
“I can’t possibly water enough. This summer must be hotter than last summer.” I don’t think our summers have gotten hotter, but as I age, I do not handle the […]
Bee Food!
Dennis Gray with the Coastal Bend Beekeeper’s Association reminded us this week that Texas Sage plants are one of our local bees main source of food this time of year. […]
Root Bound Plant? Tease or Cut Roots Before Planting
If a plant is root-bound, take a moment to tease or cut roots before planting.
What can I do about those sprouts under my oak tree?
There are almost never seedlings growing from acorns. If there were, you would be able to pull them up easily. What you see are sprouts from the roots of the […]
Mealybugs Are Here!
Mealybugs are here! Look on the tips, stems, and undersides of the leaves for these white insects clustered together. If they go unnoticed for a short period of time , […]
Not Too Hot For Poinciana!
It can be challenging to find the right plants for a hot, dry, summer in South Texas. One of my favorites is known by most of us as Poinciana (Caesalpinia). That’s […]
Crape Myrtle Season
It’s a wonder to watch crape myrtles go from ordinary to extraordinary in what seems a matter of days. Look down most neighborhood streets to find a multitude of white, […]
Does Your Jatropha Have Soft Scale?
Take a close look at the stems and leaves of your Jatropha. Do you see large white clumps of soft scale? This insect begins along the stems looking like a […]
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
