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A GARDEN STORE AND SO MUCH MORE

Located on South Congress, just 2 miles south of downtown Austin. We are by definition an urban garden center. However, with 2 acres of majestic Oak trees, a serene waterfall, a gigantic wind chime, and a tropical greenhouse The Great Outdoors is a bucolic destination. We carry a wide selection of native and adapted plants suitable for Central Texas gardens and homes. Our inventory includes seasonal vegetables, perennials, cacti and succulent, indoor plants, palm trees, shrubs, water plants, vines, roses, fruit trees, and more.

But, we aren’t just about plants here at The Great Outdoors. We are a full-scale garden center. We carry a wide variety of soils specifically crafted for certain plants. We also carry fertilizers, insect management solutions, disease control options and specific plant foods.

You also get us! With our extensive plant knowledge and hands on landscaping experience that we can lend to your gardening project, big or small. We'll also send you on your way knowing exactly how to care for your new plant! We also have a team of loaders who will carry heavy items, bring your soil to your car, and help you get that impossible plant to fit in your vehicle for a safe ride home!

Learn more about our rooms & programs.

Hours:

Monday - Saturday 9 am to 6 pm - Sunday 10 am to 6 pm.

Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and Jan 1-5 (to take inventory).

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What's happening

See this months events and workshops!

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Fairy Garden Workshop

  • 1st Saturday every month 11:00am. Our Fairy Garden expert will lead you in creating your own Fairy Garden. Adults and Children welcome.
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Garden Party

  • 2nd Saturday of every month fun for the whole family!
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Christmas Tree Care - a collection of helpful documents

These guides are courtesy of the farm that provided our Fraser Firs! There may be some repetition, but we included them all just in case! We also have our latest newsletter with a list of dos and don’ts for you to look at. Just scroll down to the Newsletter section🔻! We also have a really beautiful video coming soon. With all this info you can be assured to get the most out of our tree this festive season!

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our services

While we know the importance of starting a garden with a well-designed plan, we also value the Do-it-Yourself mind set. With this in mind, we offer three design services (Garden Coach, Plan and Plant, and Off-Site Consultations), delivery, and special orders to help you achieve a great garden.

Learn More

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our nursery

Our inventory includes seasonal vegetables, perennials, cacti and succulent, indoor plants, palm trees, shrubs, water plants, vines, roses, fruit trees, and more. But, we aren’t just about plants here at The Great Outdoors. We are a full-scale garden center. Learn More

Recent Newsletters

Re-purposing your Christmas Tree & our Fall Vegepod

Once the day is done, and your Christmas tree comes down, rather than throwing it away here are some tips on re-using it! The charming, now bearded, Mark Gibbs shares tips from 25 years of taking down trees! We also have an update on our fall veggies grown in the amazing Vegepod. Instagram: @greatoutdoorsaustin Twitter: @GreatOutdoorsTX Facebook: The Great Outdoors

How To Pot a Bonsai

Our greenhouse manager Chaeli Cardenas has been potting bonsai for people to purchase as Christmas gifts, so we asked her to talk us through her process! She has so many tips and tricks for you!

Christmas Tree Magic!

This is a video we made of our Christmas Trees! Watch the timeline of them being unloaded, prepared, set-up on the floor and processed for guests. The ever-knowledgeable Mark Gibbs shares some facts about the fir tree, including some tips on how to get that 'Christmas tree smell' throughout the house (04:04)! Mark wasn't miked up for this segment... so you may need to bump up the volume a bit when he is speaking! Let us know what you think in the comments. Follow us on social media: Instagram - @greatoutdoorsaustin Twitter - @GreatOutdoorsTX Facebook - The Great Outdoors

The Christmas Cactus - everything you need to know

The Christmas Cactus is a unique plant, one that can be induced to flower during the festive season! The knowledgeable Mark Gibbs lays out everything you need to know, from lighting, to watering, to the tricks behind making the best blooms. It is so rare to have such amazing blooms in the winter season. A real Christmas treat!

Living Christmas Trees - Grow a Family Tradition

Cut trees are great, but living trees are better! In this video the insightful Mark Gibbs lays out all the info you need to keep your tree happy and healthy! After its first Christmas inside, you can plant these evergreens in your yard. You can decorate it outside in years to come! It will grow with your family and be a wonderful seasonal reminder of years past, and years to come!

Preparing for a Freeze! What to do, what not to do, and everything in between!

it’s getting cold in Central Texas tonight! So the affable Mark Gibbs shares over 25 years of experience, that’s 25 winters! He has loads of ideas, tips and tricks that you can use to prepare your plants for colder weather. For some this may mean a move inside, and battling the dryer air of central heating, for others it may be how best to keep their roots from freezing ☃️!! Come visit us for all your wintering needs, and we’ll help you and your plant babies get through this! Any questions, let us know.

Wildflower Seeding, Fall for Spring

The enigmatic Mark Gibbs shares everything you need to know about seeding wildflowers for the spring. Wildflowers are a special part of the landscape here in Texas. With this video you will learn about picking the best seed for your yard, preparing the soil, and a bunch of tips that will ensure your success! Questions and comments are welcome! Instagram: @greatoutdoorsaustin Twitter: @GreatOutdoorsTX Facebook: The Great Outdoors

How to Repot your Orchid

In this video the knowledgeable Mark Gibbs walks you through repotting an orchid! This video covers everything from soaking your potting medium to the right choice in pottery! Have a look and let us know what you think. Questions and comments welcome! Instagram: @greatoutdoorsaustin Twitter: @GreatOutdoorsTX Facebook: The Great Outdoors

Planting a Fall Veggie Garden - with Vegepods

It’s time to plant your fall vegetables and here is a comprehensive guide on preparing, planting and fertilizing! We are using @vegepod, a great product that is a fantastic alternative to a raised bed. Mark Gibbs guides you through planting starts and imparts decades worth of tips and tricks! Contact us for more info on the @Vegepod Instagram - greatoutdoorsaustin Facebook - TheGreatOutdoors

How To Properly Pot A Plant

The fantastic Mark Gibbs shares his many decades-worth of experience in potting plants with you! In this video we pot a small fig from start to finish. This video is good for beginners looking for a how-to, or seasoned gardeners looking for a tip or two. This video also relates to new pottings and repottings. If you have any questions, let us know!

Seeding Made Easy - Veggies For Fall

Have you ever wanted to seed your own fall veggie garden? This video talks you through exactly what is needed for an easy and successful start. From what seeds to plant, to tips and tricks on how and when to plant them. Mark Gibbs has it all! Instagram: @greatoutdoorsaustin Twitter: @GreatOutdoorsTX Facebook: The Great Outdoors

How To Prepare for a Garden Project

Mark Gibbs gives you some pointers on how to prepare for a larger garden project. With fall coming this is the time to get a lot of your trees etc in the ground so they can develop a decent root system before the winter. Use this video as your guide!

Desert Gardening: An Intro to Yucca, Cactus and Agave

It's still pretty hot here in Texas, despite it being August! It is hard to grow and sustain plants in the heat but some varieties of desert plants love this weather! In this video we introduce you to a variety of cacti, agave and yucca. We also talk about how to plant, maintain and get the most out of these heat loving beauties!

Do It Yourself - Mounting a Staghorn Fern

We talk you through mounting a Staghorn Fern to a piece of wood, creating a very beautiful plaque! Lay it flat or set it on the wall. We talk you through the whole process. It’s very easy - something fit for kids!

Getting Started with Bonsai

Thinking about getting started with a bonsai? Well with this introductory video we go over what you need, what you should look for and a few tips on soil etc. everything you see in this video is for sale, so come on down to The Great Outdoors when you are ready to begin!

Getting The Most Out of Your Air Plants: Bark Mounted Tillandsias

In this video we show you how to make an arresting centerpiece or wall hanging out of Tillandsias (air plants), bark and moss! All you need is a glue gun (we recommend cold glue sticks), your bark and an assortment of Tillandsias and moss. This is a great family activity, or over a glass of wine with friends! Enjoy the video!

Staying Cool in the Summer Heat

Mark Gibbs shares how to stay cool in the summer heat.

Republic of Austin Visits the Great Outdoors Nursery

In this transmission from the Republic of Austin, Jasmine and Chris visit the most magical garden center ever, the Great Outdoors Nursery. Founder Tom Tinguely takes us on a tour of this bucolic nursery, showing us some of the spots that make this South Austin attraction worth visiting. http://www.RepublicofAustin.com

Home Gardening Tips: Tomatoes, Eggplants, Basil, and Dewberries.

In this video Jill walks us through her home garden and gives us tips about harvesting tomatoes, eggplants, basil, and dewberries in Austin Texas. Filmed by mishnoon.com

Living Living Christmas Trees - Grow a Family Tradition

Cut trees are great, but living trees are better! In this video the insightful Mark Gibbs lays out all the info you need to keep your tree happy and healthy! After its first Christmas inside, you can plant these evergreens in your yard. You can decorate it outside in years to come! It will grow with your family and be a wonderful seasonal reminder of years past, and years to come!