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Over the years, my trough garden has seen mostly flowers and herbs. I’ve tried tomatoes a few times, but this year I decided to try kale.

I started eating kale when I read it was the #1 food source for healthy eyes. It wasn’t my favorite tasting green, but I found that it’s great mixed with blueberries in a smoothie. Plus, it’s easy to grow and lasts longer into the season than other greens.

I planted five kale plants about a month ago, fed lightly with HastaGro weekly, and starting this past week, I’ve had enough production to harvest smoothie greens most mornings! If the plants start looking a little too thin, I supplement with HEB’s organic spinach & kale mix. Yum!

Here’s the recipe:

Blend first:
– 2-3 oz Pomegranate juice
– 2 tbsp Lemon juice
– 3-5 Kale leaves, chopped
– 2 tbsp Ground flax seed
2 tbsp Yogurt

Then add:
– 1.1.5 cup Blueberries, frozen
– 1/2 Banana, frozen
– 1 scoop Protein powder

Sometimes I add fresh grated turmeric too. Hope you enjoy!

Please share some of your favorite recipes from your garden and we’ll pass some on in our garden blog in preparation for Thanksgiving! Send recipes to info@gillnursery.com.

-Sally Gill

Take-All Root Rot (TARR), or Take-All Patch, is a serious fungal disease affecting St. Augustine and Bermuda grass lawns in the Coastal Bend. I have diagnosed 4 cases in the last 7 days, with lawn damage ranging from a few small dead spots up to an 80% dead lawn overrun by weeds, which last year was a great source of pride to the now-dismayed owner.

High soil pH, soil compaction, too much or too little fertilizer, too much or too little irrigation, or herbicide injury are all stress factors that can make lawns more susceptible to TARR. TARR is related to but different from Large Patch (Brown Patch), which we commonly see in Fall and Winter. Large Patch results in temporary brown roughly circular patches during Winter but the lawn revives in Spring, whereas TARR kills roots and runners completely and the lawn will not recover on its own.

TARR, like Large Patch, can be spread by mowers, foot traffic, birds, and wind. TARR cannot be cured or eliminated, but it can be suppressed by cultural practices or by fungicide use. We prefer to treat organically by spreading one 3.8 cubic foot bale of Canadian peat moss over 1000 square feet of lawn in October or November, followed in March by Natures Blend compost at one bag per 50 square feet of lawn. We have had good results in restoring lawns with this method. Or you can choose to apply Fertilome F-Stop fungicide granules in October, November, December, and January, once a month. For patches 3 feet across or more, I recommend plugging Floratam St. Augustine into the dead areas, with a little Natures Blend compost beneath and on top.

First visual symptoms of TARR are yellow patches or strips, followed by thinning brown patches of lawn with a few unhealthy tufts of green, showing some dead brown runners and darkened, weak, unhealthy roots. Confirmation of TARR requires a microscope to observe a network of black filaments running over the surface of infected stolons (runners). Bring in a sample of diseased but still living runners (not completely brown and dead), and we can advise you on best cultural practices to have the best lawn possible.

– James Gill

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

Our son Trevor flew in this week from the Northwest for a week of family time. One of his favorite pastimes in Portland, Oregon is disc golf. Who knew, Ingleside, Texas has two good disc golf courses at Live Oak Park.

Early Sunday morning James, Trevor, our dog Callie, and I loaded up to spend the morning watching Trevor play the very challenging 18 holes.

Wow – what beauty! Winding trails, old windswept Oaks, Yaupon Holly bursting with berries, blooming grasses, American Beauty Berry loaded with purple berries, Redbays and Palmettos blanket the park. It was a sight to see for us and is a very important food source for our local & migrating birds and other wildlife that live in the area.

We have so many natural treasures around us – the Welder Wildlife Refuge, Goose Island State Park, Botanical Gardens of South Texas, Oso Bay Wetland Preserve, Mustang Island, National Seashore, and Live Oak Park! And no better time to visit than now, with crisp Fall air and cool temperatures! Happy Thanksgiving!

–Sally Gill

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

Even though I love flowers in the garden all year long, for sure Fall and Winter annuals are my favorite. I think it’s because they thrive in cooler temperatures (just like we do), they don’t take much care, and I love their strong colors and soft, sweet scents.

I had an aha moment yesterday when I took a pause from my long “to do” list to go out into the garden – I immediately felt better! The deep green foliage, the brilliant colors – the purples and reds and oranges and yellows – gave me peace. It was a reminder to me to slow down, get outside, and enjoy God’s gifts.

– Sally Gill

We’re grateful for each other, our growers and suppliers, and most of all – YOU! We’re excited about 2020 and continuing to bring you the best. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year from everyone at Gill’s!