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 […]
Talking Plants
I was recently speaking with a customer and a co-worker regarding mycorrhizal fungi and it’s benefits. This reminded me of a documentary I saw on PBS that mentioned a field […]
Top Tips for Summer Success
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? Here are some of our top […]
Quick Easy Summer Color!
A couple of weeks ago I grabbed some hot pink Samba portuluca, orange profusion zinnias, purple angelonia, and purple gomphrena (some of my favorites), planted them in two large pots […]
Current Lawn Irrigation Guidelines From The City
Update: The city’s current irrigation guidelines limit watering to once a week, between the hours of 6:00 pm and 10:00 am, using a sprinkler or sprinkler system. Hand watering can […]
My Dad, Mr. Roy M. Munroe
Shortly after graduating from the University of Texas, I began dating a handsome young man, our very own James Gill. Months after we started dating, we got the idea (from […]
Positively Charged
Have you ever wondered why everything looks so green after a thunderstorm? The air in the atmosphere is 78% nitrogen. Plants require nitrogen to grow, but are unable to absorb […]
Mosquitoes In Your Garden
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 […]
How do I keep my plants looking healthy and blooming through our summers?
Proper watering is key to keeping your plants looking good in the summer. The best time to water is early in the morning so they are well hydrated going through […]
Journey to The Caribbean
Monday night I had the pleasure of viewing the newly completed Caribbean Journey Exhibit. I am proud of what the Texas State Aquarium brings to our community and to be […]
Easy Gardening With Garden Troughs!
Garden Troughs are a great way to grow vegetables in a raised bed. They are bigger than most pots but easier than working in the dirt and can be placed […]
Texas Sage Eaten by Caterpillars?
Texas Sage eaten by caterpillars? Take a close look at your Texas sage and see if you find small black spiny caterpillars. They are the larvae of the Silvery Checkerspot […]
It’s Grubworm Time Again!
When you begin seeing June bugs flying around the porch light, you wait 5-6 weeks and then treat with Bayer Season Long Grub Control Granules. If you have not fertilized […]
Katrina Iris
I love my Katrina Iris! It’s always in bloom…always! I planted it about 4 years ago and it has quadrupled in size or more. It gets full hot west sun […]
A Time To Remember
This coming week and weekend is a time many people from around the world remember their heritage and celebrate their faith. The Jewish Passover begins at sundown April 10th and […]
A Fascinating Field Trip to Los Ramaderos of South Texas
Sally and I, as members of the South Texas Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas, spent a very pleasant day touring Rancho Lomitas Native Plant Nursery and RV […]
Does Your Hackberry Have Wooly Aphids?
Hackberry is a wonderful tree for birds with their berries and it also is the host plant for the Snout butterfly. It’s a great tree but boy they can be […]
Are Your Bougainvilleas Being Chewed?
Small little caterpillars are eating bougainvillea leaves as fast as they can sprout. Years ago nothing bothered a bougainvillea. Now it seems to be a constant battle. There are a […]
Who’s Your Garden Friend?
My definition of a garden friend is someone who happily shares their garden knowledge and passion with you. Earlier this week, I took a break from my piles of paper for a […]
Time for Tomatoes!
Hopefully we have seen our last big cold snap of the season, so it’s time to get tomatoes in the ground. Tomatoes need full sun for their entire growing season. […]
One Of Sally’s Favorites – Mystic Spires Salvia!
We have a grower that does an outstanding job growing Mystic Spires Saliva in “tubs”. Wow, they are gorgeous! They can be planted in containers or in the ground. I […]
How to Repair Dead Patches in Your Lawn
Dead patches in your grass? James shares tips on plugging damaged lawn areas with Floratam Sod.
Early Spring Pruning
Time for a little cleanup! James explains techniques to use for early spring pruning.
Early Spring: Time to Fertilize and Get Rid of the Weeds!
Days are staying warm and our lawns are growing. Now’s the time, sometime in the next few weeks, to get your lawn, trees and shrubs fertilized. Great for the spring […]
Garden Tips Library
March 7, 2017/gillnursery/Comments Off on Garden Tips Library Posted in
How Do I Revive My March Lawn?
The 2 days of freezing weather did not help our lawns at all, but I think there may be more happening than just the cold weather. I am hearing customers […]
Fertilize Your Citrus Now!
January-February is prime time to fertilize your citrus plants. We recommend Espoma Citrus-tone for organic gardening. It is long lasting and it feeds the soil and the tree. Citrus-tone recommends to feed […]
A Few of My Favorite Things
You may recall Julie Andrew’s favorite things in The Sound of Music: “Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, etc…” Her delightfully orchestrated breath of happiness made us all smile. […]
Growing Fresh Food – Part III
Growing Fresh Food Part I, Part II Photos from Debbie’s Last Fall Veggie Garden We talked about watering and fertilizing last week. Now the fun stuff – watching your garden […]
Growing Fresh Food – Part II
Growing Fresh Food – Part I So now that you’ve done all your decision making and soil prep, let’s talk about planting. Most spring veggies love warm days and cool […]
Growing Fresh Food – Pt. 1
Food from a garden is one of life’s best experiences. You get to play in dirt, sweat with a purpose, and the payoff is just plain rewarding: nutritious, delicious foods […]
Freeze Alert
We’re getting our first freeze tonight. It shouldn’t be too bad, but there will be some damage. Watch for info from James on what needs to be covered or brought […]
Why Won’t My Weed Killer Work?
One day you look outside at your lawn and BAM, you notice there are weeds everywhere! Before you start spraying with an herbicide, make sure you read the label. Some […]
Meyer Lemons For Friends & Neighbors!
(Citrus × meyeri, the Meyer lemon, is a citrus fruit native to China thought to be a cross between a true lemon and either a mandarin or common orange, from Wikipedia) What do you do when Sally Gill gives you lemons from […]
