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!!!
Holidays
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 flowers and rings on their leaves. These geraniums are known to be compact and very hardy.
Originally from South Africa, geraniums like part sun to full sun fall through spring. They can be planted in well drained soil in flower beds or in containers with good rich potting soil. They make good cut flowers, really don’t have pest problems and don’t need a lot of water. They love being fertilized with Hasta Gro.
We promise this will brighten any sunny spot in your garden all winter and spring long. Hardy to the upper 20’s (which probably won’t happen this winter). Enjoy!!
-Sally
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 stores, but that’s only one of the reasons why those stores continue to thrive!
A very important part of the success of a business is proper accounting and money management. The first lesson, money can’t be managed unless it is properly accounted for.
Very early on in our business I needed accounting help. I immediately thought of Gary Pearce, a good friend and CPA. After graduating from the University of Texas in accounting, he moved back to Corpus Christi to work with his dad, Marshal W. Pearce, in his accounting firm. Gary and I had known each other since elementary school. His parents, Marshal & June, hosted our first boy-girl party in their backyard! I called Gary in March (middle of tax season), 1979. I can’t believe he took my call! We met at the end of tax season to discuss our business venture. Gary, always the optimist, listened to our ideas and encouraged us, giving us guidance in our business. For the next year, Gary did an income statement for us each month, donating his time! He is a very kind man, as many know. James and I had no experience in retail before starting Gill’s. We didn’t know you were supposed to take the register tape out of the cash register at the end of each day to check cash, checks, charges, etc… Oh, there was so much to learn!! To this day we seek Gary’s advice and his services. THANK GOODNESS FOR GARY!
A few years into the business I called Gary again and told him I was having a hard time keeping up with the buying and accounting. He mentioned a woman who had worked for him in the past whom he felt would be a perfect match for us. Betty Maskey. She was a detail person, understood numbers, and loved to garden! She was perfect for Gill’s.
Betty accounted for inventory coming and going, did our payroll, accounted for our landscape job costs and at the end of every month created an income statement, all by calculator, paper and pen. No computers back then!
James and I did not disagree often, but when we did we would seek Betty’s advice. What a wise woman! I’ll say, beyond wise, she was also kind and unbiased. She didn’t play favorites, even though I know she adored James! Today, we all say in chorus, THANK GOODNESS FOR BETTY!
In the early 90’s, Betty and her husband Harry decided they wanted to be closer to their kids so she turned in her notice. She gave us six months to find a replacement. Again, very, very kind!
We placed an ad in the Corpus Christi Caller Times for the position and, oh my goodness, the applications came rolling in! I bet we had forty applications. As I looked through them, I kept wishing, “if only I could find someone like Barbara.” My mother had hired Barbara to work at my dad’s engineering firm years ago. I kept looking and looking, and towards the end of the enormous pile was Barbara’s application! What a gift! We hired Barbara immediately. Betty trained Barbara and voila, the transition was made.
As the company continued to grow, we hired assistants for Barbara, including Debbie, and then in the early 2000’s we hired Stacy. Today, Stacy manages our accounts payables and receivables. Stacy has an eagle-eye for accounting mistakes and finds them very quickly. She is a plant lover, too, and always snags beautiful plants as they roll off our vendor’s trucks. I love seeing her finds tucked next to her desk in the accounting office!
Barbara and Stacy make a fabulous accounting team. Their attention to detail, professionalism, reliability and true love for our company are beyond the best. They are the best of the best!!
Betty stopped in before the holidays to visit and amazingly, even 25 years later, she can still walk in and we all get excited, “Betty’s here!!”
So, yes, Gill’s is more about plants than anything else, but we could never do it without our people.
THANK GOODNESS FOR GARY, BETTY, BARBARA & STACY, our “numbers people”!
-Sally
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
What to do with cold damage on your plants:
I have cold damage on my alternanthera and copper plant. It didn’t kill the plant, but it sure doesn’t look good. I took my hedge shears and lightly trimmed the plants for a little cosmetic improvement. Then in late February to early March, I will cut back, about 6″ from the ground; they will then flush with new spring growth!
Decorating your home with houseplants for the holidays:
Before you bring your patio plants indoors from the cold to decorate for the holidays, be sure to spray them with Bonide All Seasons Oil. It will kill any insects they may have on them as well as make the leaves nice and shiny. Bayer Insect Control Plus Fertilizer Capsules will also keep them healthy through the winter while indoors. It lasts up to 8 weeks and since it is pushed into the soil, you do not have to worry about pets or children coming in contact. Be sure to place your plants in front of a bright window so they can acclimate to their new environment.
How to keep your Christmas Tree fresh:
Keep water in your tree reservoir at all times. Make a fresh cut on your tree if it’s out of water for more than 15 minutes. If you cannot put your tree in your home right away, keep it in a cool shady area outside in water. Place your tree away from the heater/ac vents and sunlight as these dry the tree more quickly. Use our tree preservative to keep your tree as fresh as possible. Unplug lights when not at home; this reduces dry conditions and protects from fire hazard.
It’s the time of year we are scurrying around the garden, picking delicious ripening citrus. Perfect gift giving for the holidays! A few days ago, I noticed that some of my lemons and their leaves have a black mold on them. Some of you have had the same issue and are concerned too. “What is happening?”
Well it is most likely from the honeydew of visiting insects who enjoyed a meal from your citrus tree. Who could blame them? They have probably moved on but if you find a few still catching a free meal, you can treat your citrus tree with dormant oil spray. It’s just oil-no chemicals so you can be assured it’s not harmful to you or your tree. But it suffocates those insects and any eggs they may have laid while hanging out.
It doesn’t change the flavor of the fruit, and thank goodness it’s easy to wash off! Happy Holidays!
-Debbie
May means Mom’s Day, graduations, and more BBQs and family holidays outside! May is also Mental Health Awareness Month. As gardeners, we know growing plants and being outdoors are necessary for our wellbeing…and so much fun! Here are our Top 5 Must Do’s this May to help you and your garden make the transition to warmer weather.
Check out our May 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 Blooming Perennials
It’s still time to plant lots of different blooming perennials. Get them established now so they are better adapted to withstand warmer temps this Summer. Staples like Esperanza, many varieties of Salvia, Jatropha, Lantana, and more are all blooming beautifully right now. We’re excited about Cape Town Honeysuckle this month (see pic above). It grows to about 4-5’ tall and wide, whereas its relative, Cape Honeysuckle, grows to 8’ or more. Lots of blooms and lots more options for placement. Added bonus: these blooming perennials attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds!
2. Plant and Harvest Veggies
Warm weather veggie time! Plant peppers, zucchini, squash, and okra this month for continued harvesting into the Summer months. If you planted tomatoes, cucumbers, and other early Spring veggies, you’ll be harvesting now or soon. Be sure to harvest often! It keeps birds & insects from finding them first. If you do have insect issues in your veggie garden, our go-to organic control is Spinosad – safe for food but takes care of bugs. And remember to keep watering as the weather warms up. Soaker hoses are great to snake around your plants keeping water close to the ground and root systems.
3. Tend Your Lawn
It’s vital to water your lawn once a week unless we have rain. Invest in a sprinkler that’ll do the work – we have them. Hand watering the lawn may feel therapeutic, but you won’t get good coverage and depth.
When mowing, the proper height for St. Augustine lawns is around 3 inches. For Bermuda lawns keep mowed to around 2-2.5 inches.
Feed with Natural Fertilizers: Medina Growin Green or Milorganite. These feed the lawn and the soil with great results. Water in to get them started.
Watch for lawn insects & treat when needed. Grub worms & chinch bugs are easy to control when caught early but there’s no need to treat unless you have them. Bayer Season-long Grub Control will do the trick for grubs. Cyonara takes care of chinch bugs.
4. Look for Thirsty Plants
Watch your plants and they will show you when they need a drink. Most show signs of wilting (see photo). That’s a sign they need water soon. Once you give them a drink, they perk up quickly. But some will not tell you until it is too late, like a live oak tree. Invest in a moisture meter. They help to read the moisture with a poke into the soil around the roots. We have them and they’re very easy to use.
5. Gifts for Moms and Grads
Let us help you find something pretty, useful, or both for the gardening moms and grads in your life. Pottery, birdbaths, wind chimes, garden tools, hats, gloves – lots of options. Or the gift that gardeners love most – plants!
Check out our May Garden Guide for more tips! Happy gardening!
Lots of fun to be had this Summer – holidays, BBQs, weekend trips, and landscape projects! Here are our top must-do’s to keep your plants healthy and happy this July.
Check out our July 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. Watering: Think Depth, Not Frequency
Proper hydration happens when you get water down to the root ball of the plant. This means watering deeply not more frequently. Run irrigation systems or sprinklers once a week before 10am or after 6pm per current city watering rules – this is what we recommend for summer watering even when restrictions are lifted. Long, slow, deep drinks for plants, trees, and lawns!
2. Train Your Plant Sitter
Be sure to have a trusted plant-sitter come water your plants while you’re away on summer excursions! It’s a good idea to spend a little time showing them how you water. Don’t just write it down, walk them through it. You know your plants and which ones get tired and thirsty the fastest.
3. Collect Cool New Houseplants
Now’s a great time of year to work on your cool indoor jungle. The greenhouse is restocked with all kinds of interesting choices, including the pictured Hoya macrophylla aka “wax plant” or “honey plant”. The variegated edges become vibrant pink with more sunlight, and it blooms beautiful fragrant star-shaped flowers. Great to hang/drape in medium to bright indirect light. Keep in mind that constant A/C indoors will dry out plants. Keep an eye on watering (use a moisture meter) and don’t place houseplants near an A/C vent. We are experimenting with a small humidifier on one of our indoor plant shelves.
4. Make Shade!
We find lots of uses for shade cloth here at Gill’s. It’s great for shading plants, of course, and can also be used to block wind. It’s also an excellent addition to a pergola, breezeway, or outdoor dining area to create some extra shade this Summer. Easy to cut to the custom size/shape you need.
5. Watch for More Bugs in Summer
Not all bugs are bad, so it’s important to know your bugs before you spray anything, even organics. A few bugs here and there is probably not cause for alarm. If you do get an infestation, cut the plant back first, give it some fertilizer, then treat for bugs. By pruning first, you won’t have to treat every leaf on the whole plant. We see plants come back better than ever using this method. If you’re not sure about bugs or pruning, we’re here to help.
