Twenty years ago, Everett and Sandra Wray took a chance on a new kind of crop. Read the story and view pictures from over the years on our celebration website.
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Christopher Wray
44 posts
Thankful for our Public Servants and 20 Years of Business
September 11, 2026
25 years ago was a sad day. We're thankful that our country is still a wonderful place to live in and build a business in and we're thankful for our public servants that help make our country what it is and has been. This year also marks 20 years since Garden Gate Nursery shipped our first order of trees.
Give the Gift of Growth this Christmas 🌲
November 23, 2025
This holiday season, consider giving something that lasts far beyond the Christmas tree lights — the gift of a lasting landscape.
🌳 Awesome Small Trees: ~20 Feet and Under
October 16, 2025
My dad and I decided to put together a list of our favorite small trees- ornamental, flowering, and evergreen- that stay under ~20 feet. These are great options if you’re looking to add color, shade, or structure to your yard without overwhelming the space.
Tree Planting & Care Guide
September 1, 2025
Follow this guide to ensure your plants thrive.
Stand out With a Flowering Crabapple Tree
June 5, 2025
Stand out with a flowering Crabapple in your landscape. We have some beautiful options we recommend, and you'll also learn a tip for ensuring your Crabapple trees stay healthy.
Maybe the number 2 reason trees die?
May 28, 2025
There is a common reason trees die in Tri-Cities Washington. This comes after lack of water, but is pretty prevalent. Weed eaters and lawn mowers cause significant tree damage. Learn about it and see what you can do to prevent this kind of tree damage.
Gratitude from Garden Gate Nursery this Thanksgiving
November 25, 2024
As we reflect on this past year at the nursery, we're filled with gratitude for all of our wonderful customers. Your support and trust in us throughout another year has made all the difference at Garden Gate.
Garden Gate Opens to the Public for the Fall
September 24, 2024
We're happy to announce we've opened to the public by appointment for the Fall! You can now visit the nursery and get one-on-one help finding the perfect trees.
August, 2024 Availability and Updates from Garden Gate Nursery
August 6, 2024
Here is our latest availability for August. Hope your summer has been great! We're thankful to be through (hopefully) the worst of the summer heat and looking forward to Fall ahead of us. Things are looking pretty great at the nursery.
We are not hiring at this time.
July 12, 2024
It has come to our attention that some people are getting fake job interviews and offers seeming to come from our company. This is a fraud, and is not from us. Please do not respond to scam emails and forward the email to the appropriate authorities.
Nursery Temporarily Closed to Appointments for Summer Heat
July 1, 2024
Garden Gate Nursery will be temporarily closed for in-person appointments until the end of August. This decision has been made in response to the extreme summer heat we will be experiencing over the next few weeks.
Maple Clorosis in Tri-Cities Washington
June 19, 2024
Does this look familiar to you? It might. It’s a common sight in the Tri-Cities Washington this time of year. Maple trees start to yellow and look terrible.
Take 10% off our Hanging Baskets in Store
June 6, 2024
We're excited to let you know you can now take 10% off our hanging baskets when you purchase one at the nursery!
Great looking trees and shrubs from our Oregon location
May 24, 2024
We wanted to highlight a few great-looking shrubs and trees that we have available at our location in Oregon, ready to ship now.
Appointments Open for 2024
April 5, 2024
We’re excited to let you know that you can now schedule an appointment to purchase plants at Garden Gate this year.
Wishing you and your team a joyful Thanksgiving
November 23, 2023
As the holiday season approaches, we at Garden Gate Nursery take a moment to reflect on the blessings and partnerships that have enriched our journey. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to you for being an integral part of our wholesale family.
Fall 2023: What’s changed color by October 5th?
October 5, 2023
This time of year, we’re drinking pumpkin spice lattes, visiting fall festivals, and enjoying the beauty God created in the changing seasons. Here at the nursery in Pasco Washington, things are changing quickly, and we love the freshness of fall. In today’s post, I wanted to share what has changed color so far and share some pictures I took while walking through the trees at Garden Gate in Tri-Cities Washington.
F.A.Q. About Garden Gate's Open to the Public Events
September 13, 2023
As you may or may not know, Garden Gate Nursery is a wholesale nursery, which means we primarily grow and sell trees for retail garden centers, landscapers and cities. We are not normally open to homeowners, but twice a year, we host an "Open to the Public" event, where homeowners and anyone who wants can come and pick out trees straight from the farm anytime during the event.
Seasonal Tree Care Tips for Tri-Cities Residents
September 13, 2023
Maintaining the health and beauty of your trees in the Tri-Cities area is essential, and understanding their unique seasonal needs is a key part of effective tree care. Our climate, with hot summers and cold winters, presents various challenges.
The Ruby Sunset Maple + September Availability from Garden Gate Nursery
September 5, 2023
See our latest availability and learn about this month's featured tree: the Ruby Sunset Maple.
Why Fall is a Great Time to Plant Trees
August 31, 2023
There are several reasons why we think fall is a great time of year to plant trees, and in this article we go into some of our reasons. Just to be clear, in this article we are mostly writing about container trees, not B&B or bare-root trees.
Exploring the Beauty and Benefits of the Greenspire Linden Tree
August 18, 2023
Among these natural wonders stands the Greenspire Linden tree (Tilia cordata 'Greenspire'), a remarkable species known for its graceful appearance, fragrant blossoms, and numerous advantages.
Unveiling the Urban Sunset® Maple: Beauty and Benefits for Urban Landscapes
August 18, 2023
In the heart of our bustling cities, a natural wonder stands as a testament to the harmonious marriage of urban living and natural beauty.
Celebrate the Farwest Show 50th Anniversary with us this August in Portland, Oregon!
August 7, 2023
This year, we'll be at the Farwest Show in Portland Oregon, and we'd love to have you join us.
Grand Opening of Garden Gate Nursery Online Store: Your Source for Shade Trees, Ornamental Trees, and Outdoor Furniture
August 4, 2023
We are thrilled to announce the much-awaited grand opening of the Garden Gate Nursery Online store!
August 2023 Availability from Garden Gate
August 1, 2023
We hope you've had a great summer so far! Here is our latest availability. Trees are growing fast this time of year, so if you don't see exactly what you're looking for, let us know and we'll be happy to look and see if we have what you need.
How does soil pH affect tree health?
December 21, 2022
If your landscape will have a high or low pH, then choosing varieties of plants more adaptable to the pH is probably the easiest way to go although landscapes with toxic levels of pH will need treatment.(<4, >9)
Winter Closing
December 16, 2022
We hope you are having a great holiday season! We wanted to let you know that Garden Gate is closed for pickup and deliveries due to winter weather. We won't be pulling orders or shipping trees until mid-January- weather permitting.
July Availability + Heat Shock Protection + Two Great Lindens
July 6, 2021
Here you can download our current availability, pulled yesterday. I hope you and your plants are surviving the heat. We want to let you know about a great product for plants that can help prevent shock during this time of year.
Cut roots at planting to avoid future tree failure.
June 29, 2021
One of the most important steps of planting a container tree is cutting the outer layer of circling roots. This is easy to miss, and unfortunately, trees suffer the consequences.
Spring Update from Garden Gate
April 12, 2021
We hope you have had a great spring so far. This year, we want to let you know that we won't be having an "open to the public event", but instead we have created a calendar with times where you can come out to the nursery to find trees.
Do Red Maple Trees Flower?
March 20, 2021
In the Springtime in the Tri-Cities Washington area, bees will be buzzing before many trees have started to bloom. If you take a closer look at maple trees, many of them will be pushing small flowers that are quite beautiful, giving off their sustaining pollen to the bees.
Online Store and Appointments Update
June 15, 2020
We have had a WONDERFUL Spring. Thank you ALL who have made appointments to come out to the farm, purchased on our retail store, and kept up to date with us on our newsletter. We are SO grateful for your business and support.
How deep should trees be planted?
April 19, 2020
Trees should be planted with the root flare, or where the trunk starts to develop roots, level or 1-2 inches above the level of the soil.
Garden Gate is Temporarily not Accepting In-Person Appointments
March 30, 2020
In an effort to protect our valuable employees and the customers we love doing business with, we have made the decision to temporarily stop accepting in-person appointments for any of our customers.
Garden Gate Availability, January 2020
January 10, 2020
Happy New Year from Garden Gate! Here is our current plant and tree availability ready to download in excel.
Closing Through Mid-January
December 11, 2019
Today is our last day of work at the nursery for the team. We will still be in the office and putting packages and orders together for next year, but we will not be doing anymore deliveries or pulling trees through Mid January.
Upgrading Your Backyard With Wildlife Friendly Features
October 8, 2019
If you’re looking to upgrade your backyard garden or patio, consider the addition of wildlife-friendly water features. A small or large wildlife-friendly water feature will attract animals that will keep your backyard landscape flourishing.
Introducing the Emerald City® Tulip Tree
August 26, 2019
There are a few trees we absolutely love, and one that made it to the top of our list this year again is the Liriodendron tulipifera ‘JFS-Oz’ Emerald City® Tulip Tree. In this article, you will find out what sets this tree apart from the rest.
What are the Best Shade Trees?
August 26, 2019
There are a few shade trees that stand out among the crowd. Read our list of best shade trees and learn why we think they are the best shade trees available on the market. Don't see your favorite? Add it in the comments and share why, we may add it to our list!
How not to kill trees in your yard.
May 14, 2019
There are three main reasons why a tree could die after leaving the nursery. Weed-eaters, trees planted too deep, or if the trees get the wrong amount of water. Watch this video and ensure you don't lose your tree after you've purchased from Garden Gate Nursery.
The Uniqueness of the June Snow™ Dogwood
October 15, 2018
The June Snow™ Dogwood tree is an incredible ornamental variety that quickly made it to our list of favorite trees this year when we started growing it for the first time. From a fast growth rate to its flowers, this tree is quite different than its Dogwood family members.
Why did my tree just die?
August 29, 2018
Unfortunately, nursery's don't have a spell. We don't have anything special that keeps our trees more alive than they can be in a landscape setting. Although that is a bummer for us, it is a good thing for you. That means that after planting your trees, you can be sure to have healthy, happy trees in your yard!
A Birds Eye View Into the Farm.
June 19, 2018
During our Spring, Open to the Public event, we had a video team come out and capture a little of what we do here on the nursery. Through the next couple months, we will be sharing the videos from that week. Today, we are sharing the first of the nursery.