christmas

It was nice having some cold weather for Christmas, but some of our plants might disagree.

Covering plants (and keeping them covered) was a big challenge with such high winds. Chances are, we’ve all got some plants that suffered damage. But it’s too early to give up and too soon to prune! Here are a few do’s and don’t do’s right now.

The good news is our forecast looks warm and sunny! Our best advice right now is to get everything uncovered, water well, and let everything enjoy the sunshine. The cold, dry wind dried everything out, so most plants will need water. But use a moisture meter and be sure not to water too much. Some plants wilt and look thirsty just because they’re cold and will perk up as temps rise.

Tender tropical plants like Philodendrons, Gingers, Cannas, and Bananas probably look pretty defeated right now unless you were able to cover them really well. Give tender tropicals at least a week before deciding to cut them back. Woodier tropicals like Bougainvillea and Hibiscus may have some damaged foliage, and will likely be fine, but time will tell. Don’t prune them yet.

Many perennials (such as Salvias, Duranta, Turk’s Cap, Mexican Bush Sage) that were left uncovered should survive. They look bad and they lost a lot of foliage, but they are mostly dormant right now anyway. Our first instinct may be to cut them back now, but it’s too early! You don’t want to prune now and make the plant think it’s time to start coming out of dormancy and putting on new growth. That new growth would be more cold-sensitive. Also, the ugly burned foliage will act as insulation if we get another freeze. If you can tolerate the unsightliness, leave them alone. If not, remove the damaged leaves, but don’t prune. Wait to prune until February when it’s time for plants to start putting on new Spring growth.

Keep in mind, it’s still Winter! Keep your frost cloth and plant covering supplies handy in case we get another cold snap. As always, get in touch if you have questions about specific plants. You can send us pictures to info@gillnursery.com, Facebook, or Instagram. Or give us a call or stop by!

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 year plus a few important care tips.

FYI…

Real fresh-cut trees are sustainable and 100% recyclable. For each tree cut, 1-3 more saplings are planted. These man-made forests can consume several thousand pounds of carbon dioxide per year helping to clean our atmosphere and provide oxygen. Recycled trees can be used for building barrier sand dunes on Padre Island, creating artificial reefs in local bay waters, and chipped for garden mulch. No waste!

Tree Varieties at Gill’s

Noble Fir in traditional form plus a new look called “layered” that is super cool. Nobles are known for their long-cut life and stiff branches that hold ornaments well. Very fragrant foliage adds to their appeal for the holidays.

Nordmann Fir has a soft needle and little to no fragrance. It is a great choice for those with allergies. With excellent needle retention, they are very pretty with contrasting dark green and silver foliage.

Fraser Fir is one of the most popular trees. They are highly sought for their needle retention, tolerance to warmer climates, soft silvery foliage, and fragrance. We have seen Frasers in March look almost as good as they did in December!

We offer delivery + set-up as well as Xmas tree takeaway after the season.

2 Very Important Xmas Tree Tips:

#1 – Keep your tree in water! Our trees have had a fresh cut and have been immediately placed in water to maximize freshness. As soon as you get your tree home, get the base of the trunk in water. If you need to wait to put it on the stand, get it in a bucket of water. If you plan to give your tree a fresh cut when you get home, only cut ½” off the base, and you must get it in water within 10 mins, or the cut will seal over and not allow the tree to take up water. Keep monitoring your water level in the stand throughout the season.

#2 – Keep your tree away from heating and A/C vents (if a vent is nearby, close it). Heating and A/C will dry out the tree quickly – you don’t want that! You want to keep it as hydrated as possible.

Go See The Big Tree!

We are happy to be a part of the annual Botanical Gardens holiday light display. This year, the majestic 22ft Nordmann is about 20 to 25 years old, younger than most of the big trees the tree farm will harvest. Visit the Botanical Gardens website for more info about holiday hours.

-Debbie

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 only difference is the amount of water they need depending on temperatures and wind!

1. Plant These Now

There’s always the BEST time to get plants growing and here’s a few that LOVE this season as much as we do!

Strawberries…who could resist picking these sweet jewels in the Spring?

Onions…we grow short-day onion varieties here in South Texas. Lucky for us the 1015 Texas Supersweet is one of those along with tasty Texas Early White & Southern Belle Red.

Roses…. our mild winters are perfect for big, beautiful roses & the cooler temps will only make them prettier and the flower color richer. Need we say more?

Trees…shade, flowering, small, big, they all benefit from planting now. Good root development during the cooler months of winter gives them better growth in spring and a fighting chance next summer.

2. Think Gifts That Grow

With a few simple components you can create heartfelt gifts that will last and grow. Collectible houseplants, succulents in natural clay pots, colorful flowers in a hanging basket, winter bulbs like Paperwhites and Amaryllis…the possibilities are endless! Adorn your wrappings with fresh herbs from the garden for those special touches that mean so much! Need ideas? We’ve got plenty!

3. Alternative Trees for Holidays and Beyond!

If you want a Christmas-y tree to enjoy in your landscape after the holidays, Junipers, Norfolk Pines, Loblolly Pines, Magnolias and Ficus trees work beautifully. We even had a customer this season who decided on a large Queen Palm to decorate! If you bring these in for decorating, be sure they have good bright natural light. Keep watered but not too much, and as soon as the holidays are done…take them outdoors for a breath of fresh air and plant.

4. Plant, Feed, Water Winter Flowers

Winter flowers are AMAZING right now! Violas and Pansies are breathtaking and Geraniums are full of buds and blooms. All that blooming makes them hungry, so take a moment and fertilize your beauties. We love Plant Tone and or Hasta Gro. Both are organic and give you big results. Have that “one more empty pot” to fill?

5. Check Irrigation and Reduce Watering

Established lawns and landscapes (those more than 2 years old) can do with less water during winter. Even potted plants will stay moist longer this time of year. Check your irrigation systems to run less time and/or less often. Water lawns every 2 weeks if no rain. Water your landscape and potted plants when the soil feels dry. YOU WILL NEED TO WATER when we have cold fronts with low humidity and high winds and/or freezing temps.

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 a list of quick care tips to help you out:

Poinsettias

Place in indirect sunlight, indoors or out
Water every other day to every 3^rd day by setting in sink to soak, then drain or place 4-5 ice cubes per day in pot
Fertilize every 2 weeks with Hasta Gro
Periodically freshen up by pulling old leaves

Christmas Trees (Fresh Cut)

Avoid placing tree in draft of heater or air conditioner
Keep water reservoir filled! Tree will drink a lot at first and then slow down once the tree is hydrated

Living Christmas Trees

Limit the amount of time they are indoors – up to 2 weeks is good
Water when dry, about every 3 days depending on size of root ball
At end of season, when moving back outdoors acclimate to full sun

Christmas Cactus

Keep in indirect sunlight, indoors or out
Water when dry, about every 4-5 days
Fertilize every 2 weeks with Hasta Gro

English Ivy Topiaries

Keep in indirect sunlight, indoors or out
Water when dry, about every 7 days depending on root ball size and air humidity
Again, fertilize with Hasta Gro every few weeks
Trim as needed to shape our tuck new runners into the topiary form

Blooming Amaryllis

Keep in good indirect indoor light
Keep soil moist but not wet
Once bloom fades, trim and plant in garden, leaving center of bulb above soil level

Blooming Cyclamen

One more time…keep in good indirect indoor or outdoor light
Water when dry
Trim spent blooms to encourage new blooms
Best outdoors in pots once holiday season is over

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 Christmas. Knowing that Keith is a gardener extraordinaire, we knew it was the perfect gift for them. Keith grows it all – Brussel sprouts, cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, peppers, greens, herbs, and on and on! The Swiss Chard was such a hit with their family; it’s now one of his annual plantings.

Planted in the Fall, Winter or early Spring (now!) you’re guaranteed a good crop of tasty greens. Sandy is the family’s cook extraordinaire! She often stir-fries Swiss Chard, including the stalks, olive oil, garlic, a little lemon and salt for something simple and quick. Or, one of her favorite recipes is Seared Scallops with Bacon Braised Chard – she does it all.

Sandy and Keith make a very great team; we love them and their garden successes!

-Sally Gill

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 out
Water every other day to every 3^rd day by setting in sink to soak, then drain or place 4-5 ice cubes per day in pot
Fertilize every 2 weeks with liquid organic Hasta Gro
Periodically freshen up by pulling old leaves

Fun facts: Poinsettias are a type of succulent native to Mexico. Before they arrive here at the garden center, they require 12 hours of total darkness each day to produce blooms!

Christmas Cactus

Keep in indirect sunlight, indoors or out
Water when dry, about every 4-5 days
Fertilize every 2 weeks with liquid organic Hasta Gro

Fun facts: Can last a VERY long time (as in 50 years or more). Native to tropical forests of Southeastern Brazil. If you are not seeing many blooms, try placing it in a dark area away from light for 8-12 hours – similar to poinsettias…

Amaryllis

Keep in good indirect indoor light
Keep soil moist but not wet
Once bloom fades, trim and plant in garden, leaving center of bulb above soil level

Fun facts: The gift that keeps on giving – they multiply! They can be divided each year to share with loved ones.

Paperwhite Narcissus

Refrigerate for 4-6 weeks prior to planting. (plant around Thanksgiving for holiday blooms!)
Fill a clear vase with a few inches of pea gravel.
Nestle bulbs side by side into the gravel.
Add water up to the bottom of the bulb and
place near a sunny window.

Fun facts: Native to the Mediterranean region. Paperwhites were an early item of commerce – they arrived in China during the Late Sung period, about 1,000 years ago, probably introduced by Arab traders.

Cyclamen

One more time…keep in good indirect indoor or outdoor light
Water when dry
Trim spent blooms to encourage new blooms
Best outdoors in pots once holiday season is over

Fun facts: Cyclamen are associated with falling in love, raising self-esteem and confidence, and even healing snake bites (we would not suggest trying this one). Some say putting Cyclamen flowers in your nostrils is a cure for baldness!

We’re happy to report that Christmas trees are here and they look amazing! This cool, damp weather is what they love! The garden center is stocked with fresh-cut trees ranging from 5ft to 11ft, 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 Christmas tree varieties this year plus a few important care tips.

Did You Know?

Real fresh-cut trees are the environmentally friendly option – they help support forests and don’t require the carbon emissions that it takes to produce plastic trees. For each fresh tree cut, 1-3 more saplings are planted. These sustainably managed forests consume several thousand pounds of carbon dioxide per year helping to clean our atmosphere and provide oxygen. After the season, recycled trees can be used for building barrier sand dunes on Padre Island, creating artificial reefs in local bay waters, and chipped for garden mulch. No waste!