We know it’s still early November, but we couldn’t resist! You have to see all the cute cute cute holiday decor we have coming in… happy (almost) holidays!!!
holiday
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 12 hours a day and then out in good light for 12 hours. Fertilize with a water soluble fertilizer like Hasta Gro or Miracle Gro and you should get buds and blooms for the holiday season!
-Sally
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 blooming annuals, perennials, hanging baskets and tubs of flowers for last minute “dress up” your garden for the holiday! Come see us this Friday & Saturday for the best of the best in gardening supplies to make your home it’s best. We all wish you a very happy holiday!
…And we’ll be closed Sunday for our time with family. Thank you!!
– Sally & James & Your Gill Nursery Team
Nothing says Fall like a bed of beautiful orange and yellow marigolds. We try to plant them every fall in front of the Alameda Store for a show- stopping pop of color. By now the grower is usually out of them for the season, but this year we still have them in stock for you to plant. Marigolds also represent a Mexican holiday dating back hundreds of years. Día de los Muertos is also known as “Day of the Dead”. It is a Mexican Holiday celebrated throughout Mexico, particularly the Central and South regions, and acknowledged around the world in other cultures. The holiday focuses on gatherings of family and friends to pray for and remember friends and family members who have died, and help support their spiritual journey. Traditionally, families honor the deceased by visiting their graves with sugar skulls, marigolds, and their favorite food and beverages. Whether you are honoring your loved ones, or just adding that wonderful look of Fall to the yard, remember marigolds are very easy to grow and love our Fall temperatures. Plant all your Fall annuals now while we still have the day lengths to get them established. They will reward you with beautiful color all Fall and Winter.
-DeAnna
With Passover starting Friday & Easter this Sunday, many will be gathering with family & friends to cook, eat, play games, and visit. Wonderful times for relaxing outside!
We’ve filled our store with beautiful blooming annuals, perennials, hanging baskets, and tubs of flowers for last minute “dress up” your garden for the holiday! Come see us this Friday & Saturday for the best of the best in gardening supplies to get your home, yard, and patio ready to greet your guests. We all wish you a very happy holiday!
… and we’ll be closed this Sunday for our time with family. Thank you!!
– Sally & James & Your Gill Landscape Nursery Team
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 are our tips to help.
Check out our November 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. Spruce Up With Fall Flowers
Here’s our list of Fall/Winter flowers – tons of choices for outdoor color to redo pots & inground plantings. Flowers take a little time to grow and bloom. Plant early this month so they can be WOW for the holidays! Once they’re all planted, give them a good meal of organic Plant Tone or Hasta Gro.
2. Plant Trees and Shrubs
Now is the best time to plant cold-hardy shrubs and trees. They grow & develop a good root system for better success next Spring and Summer. They will need water & care, just not as much as during warmer seasons. Always fertilize when you plant and follow our watering instructions.
3. Last Chance to Feed Your Lawn!
Fertilize now if you have not done so this Fall. Our top choices: Medina Growin’ Green or Gill Lawn & GardenFood. Apply pre-emergent for winter weed control & treat brown spots in lawns with peat moss or Nature’s Blend Compost to help with fungus control. You can also lay new sod or overseed with winter rye grass in lawn areas that are unsightly.
4. Freshen Up Inside and Out
Time to freshen up before the guests arrive! If you have houseplants that aren’t looking their best, take them to a shady spot outside on a warm day to get some fresh air. Some fresh air + a shot of liquid Hasta Gro works wonders for houseplants. There’s plenty to do outside too: pull weeds, trim shrubs a little to shape, rake beds, then feed your plants with a good organic fertilizer such as Plant Tone or Rose Glo. Finally, add new mulch to give everything a polished look! Water once a week if we don’t get rain.
5. Fall Herbs For Holiday Cooking
Cooking without herbs would be such a waste of thyme! Sage, Rosemary, Cilantro, Parsley, Fennel, Dill, (and Thyme) are just a few herbs that thrive in our Fall & Winter months. Limited space? A sunny spot, container & a few favorite herbs is all you need. We can even pot them up for you.
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
