Carter's Water Garden


Pond Tip Tuesday | It’s October🍁Time For Our Annual Fall Pond Checklist | Carters Nursery Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

Fall is in full season! Each year I try to post some seasonal Pond Tips. So here we go…

Fall will bring many changes to our Gardens and Ponds, its important to stay ahead of the game!

I always try to post proactive things you can do to keep your Water Garden clean and your Koi healthy over the Fall & Winter.
Things like –

  • Cutting your aquatic plants back
  • Installing pond netting
  • Keeping your skimmer clear
  • Using Cold Water Bacteria
  • Feeding Cool Temp Koi Food, etc. 
We stock a complete line of Water Treatment Products and supplies for your Pond and Water Garden. Including Cold Temp Beneficial Bacteria, Leaf Nets and Cool Season Fish Food | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

We stock bulk Leaf Netting at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio in Jackson, TN | It will keep debris out of your pond & help protect your fish from predators during the cold, bare months.

Pond Netting is a great tool to help keep the maintenance of your Water Garden or Koi Pond down to a minimum over the fall and winter. | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee


Switch to Cold Water Bacteria NOW! – 

Our Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria works and keeps on working when the plants and fish aren’t active and really helps the quality of your Pond Water! It is extremely effective at reducing sludge, dead and decaying leaves and plants, built up fish waste & excess nutrients like ammonia, nitrates & phosphates. These things make for poor water quality, reduced water clarity and can have catastrophic effects on your fishes health.

REMEMBER! Keep an 👁 on Your Skimmer! 

Your Pond skimmer is a workhorse this time of year! Its catching and capturing all that debris that would otherwise end up on the bottom of your Pond! BUT, you have to empty it often in the Fall 

Or, you end up with this 

* Every Pond should have a floating Pond thermometer! Our finned friends are cold blooded & water temperature is very important when it comes to seasonal feeding times. Pick one up at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio.

This is standard equipment in every Koi Pond and Water Garden. Grab a Floating Pond Thermometer at Carters Nursery Pond & Patio today.

My final Pond Tip for today,

  • Switch to Cool Season Koi Food NOW… 
When the water temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit you should switch to a Lower Protein, Cool Season Koi Food. We like to call it the ‘Rule Of 60’… | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

Well, there you have it, a little reminder to help keep the Maintenance to a minimum and to maximize the enjoyment of our wonderful hobby!

🍁 Viva La’ Fall 🍁

Happy Pondering!  

Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com

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It’s Saturday Morning & Yes, We’re Open! | Carters Nursery Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

It’s a beautiful overcast morning, the sprinklers are sprinkling, the Waterfalls are flowing and all seems right in our little corner of the world 🌎

We’ve got plants, mulch, topsoil and more! We’ve got sod by the piece and stone by the pound… And the Boutique is kickin 

Saturday gardeners… we are open 8 till 2 to serve YOU 

Y’all come!

Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com

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Throwdown Thursday!

They say breakfast 🍳 is the most important meal of the day… Do YOU eat that meal? When I was in school one of my teachers (Mr. Steele) would say ”Eat like a King for breakfast. Eat like a prince at lunch. And at dinner, eat like a pauper.”

Would you eat this for breakfast?

Well its on! I mean, breakfast is on the table!

Suey!!!

– Followed by a Long, Hot serving of July! Eat up!

Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com

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Pond Tip Tuesday | Koi Pond Tips | The Water Temp is Rising! | Remember The Rule Of 50 | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

I try to post good seasonal info to help you with your Ponds and Water Gardens. Water Temps impact feeding times for our Koi, which makes it a very important thing to keep up with! Sure enough, the days are getting longer and it’s almost that time again!

It’s almost time to start feeding our Koi “Cool Temp. Fish Food” & even some fresh fruits and veggies like peas, oranges, grapefruit & softened carrots again! YES!!! Just remember to read the thermometer & follow the “Rule of 50”! Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

“I’ve been keeping a close eye 👁 my Pond Thermometer 🌡 these last few weeks! The temperature of the water has been steadily rising as the days slowly get longer… Today my water temp is 45 degrees F. What is yours?

Start your Koi of right by feeding a quality Cold/Cool Temp Food. They are cold blooded and it’s really important to get them off to a proper start. We stock High Quality Cool Temp Koi Food at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

I will start the feeding season with Cool Temp Koi Food when the water temp has stabilized at over 50 + degrees for several days. The “rule of 50” I like to call it 😊

So, lets wrap this little Pond Tip up…

The Rule of 50 = Let the water temp stabilize for a week or so at 50+ degrees Fahrenheit before you start to feed your koi this Spring. AND, when you do start back to feeding, use a quality, Cool Season Koi Food!

PS: Don’t over feed!

Happier days are on the way!

Spring is Coming!

Happy Pondering!

Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com

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Prepping For The New Year…

2022 is almost here! To ring it in we will eat the traditional New Years meal with our family on Saturday… At our house to boot! Which means I have last minute prepping to do!

Turnip greens are top on my list of favorites. Growing and eating them is a simple pleasure.

I am cooking the turnip greens and the black eyed peas again this year. Both are equally important! Without a little luck and a bit of money, its tough to make a “Happy New Year”…

One of my plates from years past. I always try to touch all the bases with my symbolic foods 😊

For those that don’t know, each New Years food has a symbolic meaning.

Greens represent… Yes! MONEY! Makes sense to me.

Cornbread represents… GOLD! ie: More $$$! BAM!

The Hog Jowl, or Pork represents health and affluence.

And finally Black Eyed Peas = LUCK! Pass The Peas Please!!!

Im looking forward to New Years dinner, its always a fun family meal 🥘 I’m very hopeful for the coming year! But in reality I know that 2022 will only be as good as we make it… Lets work hard ❤️

I hope you ALL have a VERY Happy New Years celebration with friends and family and enjoy those traditions that are most important to you and yours!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!!

Mark Carter



2022 is Coming! | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

We are almost at the end of 2021! As we count down the last few days, I find myself dreaming and planning for next season 💭 I always get a certain feeling this time of year, it’s hard to explain it… it’s a combination of things… Excitement, exhaustion, hidden energy, creative thought, melancholy, and more all rolled up into a memorable, annual feeling! But excitement for the new year is always in the forefront!

We start the New Year with a big family dinner! The old school, traditional New Years food…

As far back as I can remember we have always kept the New Years tradition of eating a BIG family dinner! We have fried Hog Jowl, Black Eyed Peas, Turnip Greens, Cornbread and so much more … I’m ready to Welcome in 2022!

I also love my planning sessions! I try to do a yearly calendar and business plan… Without a plan and a target, who are you and where are you aiming!?

Every year I sit down and plan events with a fresh new calendar. This new year will be no different! If you fail to plan, your planning to fail! I’m looking forward to a great 2022!

Ready or not, 2022 is Coming! I hope it’s the best ever for ALL of us!

Happy New Year!

Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com

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Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃 🇺🇸

I’m having my last cup of coffee for the morning and its fixing to get busy… We are hosting the days festivities and there is a LOT to do 😊 I’ve been listening to and watching the rain fall this morning, thinking about all I have to be thankful for… It’s quite a list! 🙏🏻 At the top are all my family and friends that truly enrich my life ❤️ I have been blessed to be able to live and work with the people that are most important to me in my life. Many of them will be here at our house later today, that is a true blessing🙏🏻 When I say the prayer later today I must also remember our soldiers and sailors that couldn’t be home with family today! I am very thankful for them and their sacrifices as well 🙏🏻

Happy Thanksgiving! 🙏🏻🦃🇺🇸

We live in the greatest nation in the world!

Happy Thanksgiving!


Mark Carter



Sunday Reflections…

It’s Thanksgiving week! 🦃 And Thanksgiving Dinner is at my house! I’ve been thinking about all the work I have to do this week to prepare… Making a list… But, at least the menu is set… I got ham again

Im doing the ham again… Ya’ gotta love ham!

 I also got the sweet potatoes 🍠 But I’m putting a different spin on it this year … Instead of the regular ”Sweet Potato Casserole” you may expect… I’m Doing a Sweet Potato Bar instead! You get a whole, baked Sweet Potato & you top it yourself! Brown sugar, butter, marsh-mellows, candied pecans, fresh cinnamon, whipped cream, etc!

I’m doing a ‘sweet potato bar’ this year. I’m envisioning a great success 😊

And I always fix several pecan pies from my MiMi’s recipe…

My family loves PIE! Heres a few I fixed for Holidays past… 2 Pecan and 3 French Coconut 🥥

Everyone else is bringing something as well, can you say Feast! There will be Family and friends and LOTS of good food! I have a LOT to be Thankful for! 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
I am also very aware of the men and women who serve our country 🇺🇸 and will be unable to return home for the holidays. We owe them a very special Thank you and prayer ❤️🙏🏻

And there are so many around that don’t have as much to be thankful for… Many that even dread the holidays. I know I need to do my part to help others as well…

Well, with all that being said, I better get started…

Have a Thankful week 🙏🏻

“Give me the end of the year an’ its fun 
When most of the plannin’ an’ toilin’ is done; 
Bring all the wanderers home to the nest, 
Let me sit down with the ones I love best, 
Hear the old voices still ringin’ with song, 
See the old faces unblemished by wrong, 
See the old table with all of its chairs 
An’ I’ll put soul in my Thanksgivin’ prayers.” 

~  Edgar A. Guest


Mark C.



Pond Tip Tuesday | Seasonal Feeding For Koi | The Rule of 60 | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

Fall is in full swing! The sun is setting earlier every day & the temps are falling… And soon, Jack Frost 🥶 will be paying us a visit… The Koi have eaten well this year & have put on a good bit of fat to get them through the Cool Season ahead. Now is the time that many of my clients and fellow Koi enthusiasts start asking a very important question…

– When do I stop feeding regular food and start feeding Cool Season Koi Food?

– My Answer- Remember the rule of 60!

When the water temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit you should switch to a Lower Protein, Cool Season Koi Food. We like to call it the ‘Rule Of 60’… | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

Switching to a Cool Temperature Koi Food is very important for the health of your Koi!

Every Pond should have a floating Pond thermometer. Our finned friends are cold blooded & water temperature is very important when it comes to seasonal feeding times. Pick one up at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN

So be sure to – check your water temp (via a floating thermometer) & when your water temp drops to 60 degrees, you should transition to Cool Season Koi Food. That’s the “Rule of 60”

Fall is NOW! Enjoy your Koi 🎏

Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com

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Waterfall Wednesday | #Waterfallwednesday | Paris | Jackson, TN

“Waterfalls are my business and business is good!” Oh how I Love saying that 😊 It’s really a blessing when get to do something for a living that you really Love. And I Love ❤️ Waterfalls!
Waterfalls change everything… Seriously! I can’t think of any other Landscape feature that will transform and dramatically change an area like a Beautiful Waterfall! Take this photo and short video for instance. This Waterfall Fountain is in the foyer of one of the nicest restaurants in Paris! I know it’s a long distance from many, but if you’ve never been to Paris… Forget the Eiffel Tower… It’s worth it just to see this Waterfall! 🌊 and to taste the food!

When I walked into this entryway, I immediately stopped! A cool blast of air hits you and your bathed in the sound of this Water Feature! It set such a nice tone! I hear a bird chirping too! 🐦 Then they followed it up with excellent service and delicious food 🥘 🍲

I very rarely give a public review of local restaurants, but this was such a nice experience all the way around, I feel like they deserve a mention… So if your looking for a nice place in Paris, try …

Mousto’s in Paris, TN (expect a wait.) But it’s worth it😊


The Eiffel Towel (mini), The Riviera (tennessee), the savoir’ faire (southern)… Ahhhh, how I love Paris in the Summer!

I hope the clip of this Waterfall makes your day as well! There’s nothing like a Waterfall to set the mood 😊 Have a great afternoon…

Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com

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