Garden Center Hours: Mon-Sat 9am - 5:30pm • Sun 10am - 5:30pm
Get Directions  2810 Airline Rd, Corpus Christi TX Contact Us ¡Hablamos Español!

Gill Garden Center + Landscape Co.

Corpus Christi, TX Garden Center

(361) 992-9674
Contact Us
Subscribe
Join Our Team

christmas trees

Our Thoughts On 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 resemble a Christmas tree. Hollywood Junipers and Blue Point Junipers are another alternative with the look of a true Christmas tree. They grow well in our area and can be planted in the ground after the holidays or kept as a container plant and used for years to come. Yaupon holly trees are also great with their red berries this time of year. Magnolia and Ficus Trees can also be used. All of these can be strung with lights and used indoors for a couple of weeks before needing to be put back outside in their normal environment. Be creative. Look around the patio and see what you have to decorate. It’s always fun to decorate a non-traditional tree and surprise your family and guests!

Bugs On Your Garden Greens?

Thanksgiving morning James noticed inch worms and flea beetles on his coveted greens he is growing in pots. He grabbed his trusty Natural GuardNeem Ready To Use and with a couple of pumps of the spray bottle, problem solved! The Neem acts as a repellent for beetles and caterpillars and kills soft bodied insects like aphids. It also helps to control powdery mildew.

Some Cedar elms have gold leaves, some just starting to turn! 

This photo was taken at our Airline store this past Monday. This is a great example of how like plants, growing right next to each other, behave differently. One has turned gold, the other is still very green. Both are very healthy, just on a little different time schedule! And…please note, it’s the same in spring – there’s always one to leaf out later that causes concern but more often than not, it just decided to sleep a little longer!

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 find your perfect tree!

Noble Firs

Our Noble Firs come from the state of Washington.  They were discovered by Scottish Botanical Explorer, David Douglas, and are the tallest of the true firs.  They have dark green upturned needles, exposing the lower branches. The tree is outstanding in its beauty, has a long cut life and its stiff branch holds heavy ornaments well.

Fraser Firs

Our Fraser Firs come from North Carolina.  They are a native southern fir and naturally grow at elevations above 5,000 ft.  The tree has excellent needle retention along with a wonderful scent. The 2-toned green and silver color and branches full to the trunk are excellent for lights and ornaments. Fraser Fir was named for Scot botanist John Fraser, who explored the Southern Appalachians in the late 1700’s.

How to Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh and Beautiful

 

 

1. Keep water in your tree reservoir at all times.

When we deliver your tree, or if you pick it up, we’ll make a fresh cut. It’s a good idea to make a fresh cut on your tree if it’s out of water for more than 15 minutes. If you can’t put your tree in your home right away, keep it in a cool shady area outside in water. Use a watering elf for easier watering.

2. Location, location, location.

Avoid letting your tree dry out by placing your tree away from the heater or AC vents and keep out of direct sunlight. Also, unplug lights when not at home; this reduces dry conditions and protects from fire hazard.

3. Use Christmas Tree Preservative

Use our tree preservative to keep your tree as fresh as possible – 1 oz. per gallon of water.

4. Use a Disposal Bag for easy removal.

Place disposal bag between the base of your tree and stand. At the end of the season, just pull the bag up over your tree and haul out – no needle mess!

GREEN GIFTS

Succulent Bowl

A great low-maintenance green gift! Work with us to order the perfect custom-made bowl or let us help you assemble your own. Easy care and looks awesome!

Bonus: Succulent Care Garden Guide!

Bromeliads

Happy indoors or outdoors, bromeliads are unique and addicting. You never know which kind you’ll find – come and see our selection.

Bonus: Bromeliad Care Garden Guide!

Fruit Trees

Winter is the perfect time to give a fruit tree, and will be a seasonal treat for years to come.

Bonus: Fruit Tree Planting Garden Guide!

Have you read our December Garden Guide? Everything you need to know about caring for your South Texas garden this December.

GARDEN ART & STONEWARE

The nursery is full of non-living items, too! Any gardener on your list will love some garden art, stoneware, or statuary to enhance their outdoor space. Check out our benches and pottery, too!

We’re still delivering Christmas Trees! Our trees are kept in water for freshness, and are available for pick up or delivery to your home. Come in and pick out the perfect one!

Christmas Tree Care

 

Keep your Christmas Tree fresh for longer and your home free of stray needles!

HOLIDAY DECOR

Deck your halls with holiday decor with a natural flair. We have ornaments, garden metal art, pillows, flags, fragrance, doormats – you name it!

Happy Holidays – See you in the garden!

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 resemble a Christmas tree.

Hollywood Junipers and Blue Point Junipers are another alternative with the look of a true Christmas tree. They grow well in our area and can be planted in the ground after the holidays or kept as a container plant and used for years to come.

Yaupon holly trees are also great with their red berries this time of year. Magnolia and Ficus Trees can also be used.

All of these can be strung with lights and used indoors for a couple of weeks before needing to be put back outside in their normal environment. Be creative. Look around the patio and see what you have to decorate. It’s always fun to decorate a non-traditional tree and surprise your family and guests!

 

-Sally

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

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 3rd 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

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!

Diego misting the fresh trees!

Tree Varieties at Gill’s

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!

Noble Fir in traditional form or the layered look. 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, which makes it a great choice for those with allergies. With excellent needle retention, they are very pretty with contrasting dark green and silver foliage.

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

2 Very Important Xmas Tree Care 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. We carry the Watering Elf which makes refilling super easy.

#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!

Standing up 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. Can’t wait to see it all lit up! 

December is here! These last few weeks of 2022 are sure to fly by. Our advice: make sure you spend some time in the garden to balance out the hectic holiday season. Here are our top to-do’s this month:  what to plant, gift ideas, holiday plant care, 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 in December

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.

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 deeper, stronger root system to withstand the summer heat.

Ornamental Cabbage…these winter classics need to be planted early this month and enjoyed through the season! Easy care, vibrant colors, and unique texture in the garden.

Alyssum…gorgeous white blooms all winter long. Did you know Alyssum flowers and leaves are edible? They have a pungent horseradish-y flavor.

2. Tips for Holiday Plants

Fresh-cut Christmas Trees…we give all of our trees a fresh cut and get them in water immediately to preserve their freshness. Many customers ask us for another fresh cut before they take the tree home. If you decide to have us do another fresh cut, or if you do it yourself, keep in mind that you have 10 minutes to get the tree in water before that cut seals over! Check water in your tree stand daily and keep it full. If you have pets who like to drink or splash the water, try covering with a piece of foil.

Poinsettias…Think of poinsettias as succulents – because they are! They are a type of euphorbia. That means give them a good drink, but let them dry out between waterings. Also, the leaves bruise and break easily, so avoid touching them as much as possible. So tempting to touch!

Christmas Cactus…Probably the easiest of all holiday plants, and they can last a LONG time! There are stories of Christmas Cacti that have been gifted and passed down through families for 100+ years. They like well-lit areas, but not direct sunlight. Let dry between waterings, then mist the leaves as well as water the soil when its time to water.

Living Holiday Trees…Junipers, Norfolk Pines, Loblolly Pines, Magnolias and Ficus trees all make great Christmas trees that can be planted outside after the holidays. 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 get them in the ground.

3. Think Gifts for Gardeners!

If you have gardeners on your list this year, we’ve got you covered! Quality tools like these classic French pruning sets, plant-able Christmas cards with wildflowers seeds embedded in them, self-watering ceramic mushrooms, and lots more unique garden gifts. And of course, plants!! If they’re picky, you can’t go wrong with a Gill’s gift card.

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. Adjust Your Houseplant Care for Winter

Most houseplants will not experience a complete dormancy period during winter, but they will slow down growth and react to climatic changes like drier conditions inside the house. Give your houseplants more light and less water as temperatures and the amount of daylight hours drop. Dust/shine leaves regularly to ward off insects. Cooler temps = drier conditions and less of the humidity that houseplants love. Try grouping them together to create more humidity, or use a humidifier.

Copyright © 2025 Gill Garden Center + Landscape Co.  |  Website & Local SEO by Ramblin Jackson   |   Privacy Policy