The month of May gets us all thinking about Mom, Memorial Day, and great garden talks at Gills! Yep, we have a great line up of speakers and topics sure to interest you and a few of your friends. Be sure to read on for the full list. Our gardens are in bloom with more selections perfect for your summer landscapes. You can find something special for Mom to let her know she is loved and appreciated! Our swing chairs, heart hummingbird feeders, garden fountains, and blooming flowers are just a few things that would make her smile. Don't forget to get everything looking good for the first 3-day weekend of the summer. Time for some fun in the sun at Gills! See you soon.
Gills Garden Party to start Friday, May 18th from 3 to 6pm at both store locations! Look for in store specials and cool drinks to start the weekend right! It's lots of fun, so watch for more information on our website and your email.
Be sure to go to www.gillnursery.com and follow us on facebook for more garden news, upcoming events, and fun garden stuff!
Lawn Care
ˇ Fertilize this month, before the summer heat. Apply a fast release fertilizer (Gill Lawn and Garden 13-1-3) or slow release (Green Diamond 21-7-14), to your lawn. Water in well. (approximately 30 minutes per area)
ˇ Organic fertilizers such as Milorganite, Lady Bug Lawn & Garden, Medina Growin Green, and Gardenville are excellent fertilizers that feed plants and the soil.
ˇ Eliminate broad leaf weeds with Green Light Wipeout Granules, grassy weeds with Image
ˇ Lay new sod anytime, and Bermuda seed anytime this month, Plan to water!
ˇ Established lawns, continue watering every 10 - 14 days if we don't have rain
ˇ Apply Ironite or Hi Yield Iron Plus to yellow spots in lawn, organically with Texas Green Sand
Plant
Late spring, summer blooming annuals and perennials:
ˇ For sunny areas, try zinnias, periwinkles, moss rose, purslane, lantana, blue daze, false heather, salvia, ice plant, gomphrena, ruellia, coreopsis, and pentas
ˇ For shady areas, try caladiums, coleus, begonias, ageratum, shrimp plant, torenia, agapanthus and snowbush
Seeds:
ˇ Morning glory, moonflower, zinnias, sunflowers, gomphrena
All container grown:
ˇ Hardy and tropical trees, shrubs, vines, grasses, groundcovers, and citrus trees
Fertilize
ˇ Tomato and pepper plants regularly. Use High Yield 21-0-0 (ammonium sulfate) or Miracle Gro For Tomatoes, organically with Rose Glo or Hasta Gro, or Plant Tone
ˇ Annuals and perennials, with Miracle Gro or Osmocote Time Release Granules, organically with Medina Growin Green, Lady Bug Lawn and Garden, or Hasta Gro.
ˇ Your azaleas, gardenias, and magnolias with Azalea Food or Miracle Gro ACR for acid loving plants, organically with Maestro Gro-Rose Glo, or Texas Green Sand.
ˇ All roses with Rose Food or Bayer Rose & Flower Care, organically with Maestro Gro-Rose Glo.
ˇ All hibiscus and tropical bloomers with Green Diamond Hibiscus Food, organically with Maestro Gro-Rose Glo.
ˇ All trees and shrubs with Gill Lawn and Garden Fertilizer, Green Diamond Supreme Lawn Food, organically with Milorganite, Medina Growin Green, Lady Bug Lawn and Garden or Gardenville
ˇ All granular fertilizer should be watered in well
Prune
ˇ All early spring bloomers if not already done, such as azaleas, indian hawthorn and carolina jessamine
ˇ Trim hedges as needed to maintain good form
ˇ Poinsettias to approximately 12" tall
Watch Out For
ˇ Fungus, Powdery Mildew - Daconil, organically with Neem Oil, or Serenade
ˇ Chinch bugs in lawns - treat with Spectracide Triazicide or Bayer Complete Insect Control liquid or granule, Cyronara, organically with Diatomaceous Earth, or Pyrethrin
ˇ Grub worms - use Bayer Complete, Spectracide Triazicide, Season Long Grub Control, organically with Pyrethrin, or Nematodes
ˇ Mealy bugs - treat with Liquid Sevin, Spectracide Triazicide or Bonide Systemic, organically with Neem Oil, or Pyrethrin
ˇ Spider mites - use Spectracide Triazicide, or Bonide Systemic, organically with Neem Oil, or Spinosad
ˇ Fleas and ticks - treat lawns with Cyronara, Spectracide Triazicide, organically with Spinosad, or Diatomaceous Earth Crawling Insect Killer, or Nematodes
Be sure to follow label directions as not all chemicals can be used on all plants!
Watering
ˇ When watering during periods of windy dry conditions, it's important to water slow and deep. Be sure to watch the spray of your sprinkler and adjust accordingly with the wind
ˇ Water all plants well after planting and regularly through the first year
ˇ Plants will begin to use more water as they grow and bloom. Outdoor potted plants dry out quickly as do hanging baskets and small annuals
Mulch
Apply mulch around trees, flowerbeds and vegetable gardens to reduce weeds and help retain moisture. We like cypress, hardwood and pinestraw mulch. These reduce weeds well and will not float away.
Gills' Summer Garden Talks 2012
Join us these Saturdays 10 to 11am at our Airline store location. It's fun, informative, and free!
Questions are always welcome.
May 5th
Water Wise Plants and Landscapes
Speaker James Gill, Owner and Landscape Designer, Gill Landscape Nursery
Join James as he shows us the diversity of plants that require less water and how to use them to create beautiful, functional landscapes for South Texas. He is a Texas Certified Master Nursery Professional and member of the Native Plant Society.
A Great Garden Makeover
Speaker Kathy Hubner, Landscape Designer, Gill Landscape Nursery
Kathy is one of the best at recreating space and beauty in worn out gardens. Come watch a local home's aging landscape brought to life again in a slide show presentation followed by steps on how to get started at your own home! She is a Certified Professional Landscape Designer and an award winning Landscape Designer, Gill Landscape Nursery for over 25 years.
May 19th
Creating Patios, Paths, and Outdoor Spaces
Speaker James Gill, Owner and Landscape Designer, Gill Landscape Nursery
Tired of looking at that old cracked patio or navigating the crumbling stepping-stones? Bricks and stones don't have to break your bones; they can be used to create beautiful and functional outdoor spaces for your enjoyment. James is one of the best at creating outdoor spaces and loves to share his knowledge with everyone.
May 26th
Recipes From The Summer Harvest
Speakers Chefs Tim Berg and Sophie Garnier, Bonn A-Petit Gourmet Café and Bakery
You are in for a real treat as we welcome Chefs Tim Berg and Sophie Garnier. They will bring samples of some of their fresh creations and share with us recipes for using what we grow in our gardens. They are delightful and their food is superb as is their love of cooking for others.
June 2nd
Organic Care For Your Landscape
Speaker DeAnna Baumgartner, Manager of Gill Landscape Nursery, Alameda Location
June 9th
Container Gardening With Succulents
Speaker Merlien Wilder, Graphic and Clay Artist, Avid Gardener, Gill Landscape Nursery
(See store or our website gillnursery.com for more details.)
