Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Beneficial Bacteria, Clean Pond, Cold Water Beneficial Bacteria, Color Enhancing Koi Food, Cool Season Koi Food, Cool Temp Koi Food, Debris Net, Dip Net, Elite Koi, Feeding Koi, Fish Food, Healthy Fish, Healthy Koi, High Protein Koi Food, How Do I Clean My Water Garden, How Do I Clean My Water Garden | Koi Pond | Carters Nursery & Pond & Patio | Jackson, I ❤️ Koi, I Love Koi, Koi, Koi Fix, Koi Food, Koi for sale, Koi Health, Koi Health Tip, Koi History, Koi Keepers, Koi Nets, Koi Pond, Koi Ponds, Koi Shack, Koi Supplies, Koi Terminology, Maintenance Tips, Maxi Growth Koi Food, Pond Cleaning, Pond Cleaning Supplies, pond filtration, Pond Lighting, Pond Maintenance, Pond Maintenance Tips, Pond Supplies, Pond Tip, Pond Tip Tuesday, Pond Tips, Ponds, Spring Cleaning, Spring Pond Cleaning, Spring Pond Maintenance, Tips, Weekly Pond Tip
6 Things Koi Keepers Always Do In Their Ponds | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
1- Koi Keepers always keep a Debris Net handy! Murphy’s Law applies to your Pond! IF it can get in your Pond, it eventually will… So having a sturdy Debris Net handy, is a must!

2- Koi Keepers always add Beneficial Bacteria to their Ponds. It does a great job of helping you keep the water clean and healthy with minimal effort.

3- Koi Keepers always keep an eye on Aquatic Plant growth. They have learned that spending just a few minutes a week touching up their plants, makes them perform beautifully throughout the season!
4- Koi Keepers feed their “Finned Friends” top quality Koi Food! They make sure that their Koi Food is high quality and doesn’t have corn 🌽 in the top 3 ingredients.

5- Koi Keepers keep their Ponds clean! Spring and Fall Pond Maintenance is a MUST! They always start the Spring season with a comprehensive Pond Cleaning. Then they follow up with partial water changes as needed and Fall Pond Netting.
6- Koi Keepers spend quality time out by their Ponds with friends, family and of course, their Koi! They have learned that the Greatest Thing About Having A Pond, is spending time around it. They have learned that ‘A Pond will change your life!’

Thanks! Have a wonderful day 😊
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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This past couple of weeks tested us all a bit. Winter in all its glory… But now Spring is in our sights! And believe it or not, it’s coming quickly! So this morning I wanted to try to reassure you a bit with a video from early Spring last year. We are only a few weeks away from when this video was taken 😊
I can’t wait till I get to feed my babies again! And I can only imagine what they are thinking right about now…
Enjoy this little moment of zen! And just know that – Spring is Coming!
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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The snow has been beautiful to look at, BUT it also causes all kinds of problems… Bad roads are a given, but Big snow like we just received is extremely heavy! So heavy in fact that it can bring down roofs and even metal structures!

So now the cleanup begins! There are still 10 Koi tanks in there 😳 FULL of fish! I hope we can save them!

Have a Great weekend!
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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Pete and Repeat… Yes, Another ICE Warning for your Ponds… There is some Bad Weather Coming. Below 0 wind chills and Several chances for BIG snow accumulations next week, and more ice to boot! Be Ready!
Brrrrr! 🥶 Baby, it’s COLD outside! I think the Pond is frozen… What do I do? As my nephew, Nick, the Eagle Scout says, “Always Be Prepared”! AND, Don’t worry, it’s not hard to be ready!

The #1 Rule if your pond ever Ices over – NEVER, NEVER, NEVER break the ice by banging on it! It can cause your fish great harm – it can even KILL them! To allow the escape/exchange of gasses in a frozen over pond, keep a hole open in the ice. This is IMPORTANT!!! It will keep the gases from building up under the ice and allow for oxygen exchange and keep your fish from suffocating. This will also allow the pump to get water if the surface is frozen. If you have a skimmer, this will be MUCH easier on you! The water movement will help keep the ice from forming. You may need to keep the hole open by adding water from a water hose, bucket or pan of water. (This is why I always say “keep a dry hose” or a 5 gallon bucket for this purpose! If & when you use your water hose be sure to drain it when finished-to keep it from freezing and bursting, or just keep it in your garage). You can also use a floating pond heater or a small pump in a shallow area to “flash up’ and break the water surface. Just do it!

We don’t get too many Ice Days’ here in West Tennessee, but when we do, it’s Never at a convenient moment… In other words, if your not prepared, it can be an emergency
Simple Winter Pond Tool Kit
1 – 5 gallon bucket 🪣 (use to add water as needed. Hot tap water from your faucet will melt a hole in ice if needed)
2 – Clean, dry Water-hose (store in garage or shed so it will be ready to go when needed)
3 – Floating Pond Heater (A floating heater will maintain a opening 🕳 in an ice covered pond. This will allow for oxygen exchange and will keep your Koi alive).
That my Pond Tip today – Be Prepared! Next week, you might thank me…
And don’t worry! Spring is Coming!
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 the talk of the town! The stores are packed! Good luck finding fresh loaf bread 🍞 and sweet milk… Kerosene is in high demand! And there’s a line at the gas station ⛽️ Will there be an ICE STORM?!

I have lived through a few pretty good ice storms myself! The first was in the early 70’s and it shut the whole town down! Then another around 1985 – pretty bad, but power was back up in a matter of days, so not too bad. Then the big un’ in 1994! Jo and I were newly weds and I remember it well! We laid in the bed and listened to the trees breaking and falling and watched the lights go out… They didn’t come back on for over 3 weeks 😳 But, we had candles, kerosene heaters, a gas cook stove and plenty of Love ❤️ So, it wasn’t that bad 😊 But, I’m sure not hoping for a repeat!
If your a prepper, have a few essentials and be careful trying to get out in the roads until the ice melts. That’s the biggest danger most of us will face – a wreck on icy 🥶 roads…
Take care of your Koi and your other pets during times of unusual cold! Remember- Don’t break the ice on your Pond! And Bring those pets inside when it gets bad! Love your pets ❤️

They are getting ready to spray salt on the roads now… Y’all be careful 🙏🏻
“The iceman was coming, t’was ice that I smelt Another ice storm, was about to be dealt More ice to be salted And more ice to melt I’m no fan of ice, and that’s how I felt.”
~ Kitty Lou
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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If you don’t like the weather in Tennessee, just wait a few minutes, it will change… Scary sky’s and 70 degrees in January = Tornado weather in Tennessee!
The Koi were moving around today. All that warm rain turned them on… You have to listen closely to hear 👂🏻 their message…
Spring is Coming!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, water garden | Tags: Blue Heron, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Fall Pond Tips, Fish Cave, Heron Statue, I ❤️ Koi, I Love Koi, Koi, Koi Castle, Koi Cave, Koi Health, Koi Health Tip, Koi Health Tips, Koi Pond, Koi Shack, Koi Supplies, Maintenance Tips, Natural Predators, Pond Maintenance Tips, Pond Predator Defense, Pond Predators, Pond Supplies, Pond Tip, Pond Tip Tuesday, Pond Tips, Predator Control, Preventative Maintenance, Scarecrow, Tips, Water garden supplies, Weekly Pond Tip, Winter Pond Tips
I try to post Pond Tips from time to time to help others with their Koi Ponds. Some are general info type posts and some are seasonal. This one is a re-post and Is very important during this season. I hope it helps.
“The ponds are bare of any Aquatic Plants this time of the season. Open to the sky… And, sometimes, open to a predator attack! I spoke to a lady yesterday that said some of her fish have just disappeared… Where or What could have gotten them?

I told her several things could have happened (raccoons, cats, birds, etc) and we talked for a little while about her pond and her fish. Sure enough, she had seen a “Large Bird’ messing around her backyard lately… Boom, say hello to Mr. Heron.

We didn’t install her Pond originally so we didn’t get to discuss things like “Pond Predators” with her before. So I gave her the run down on things she needed to do to keep them at bay. You normally don’t have problems with Pond Predators if you design to prevent them in the beginning. Here are a few things that can help –

Wait, there’s more…


Even Leaf Netting can keep seasonal predators at bay. But the ultimate predator protection is to have a built in “Koi Cave” in your pond. They blend with the surroundings and provide safety for your ‘finned friends’. The really good news is – a Koi Cave can be added to your Pond! The perfect time to add a Koi Cave is during a Spring Pond Clean out! And it’s almost cleanout time in Tennessee! 💥 Give me a call to discuss putting a Koi Cave in Your Pond.

We Love our pets and we want to protect them! I hope this little bit of info has helped. If you have more questions feel free to call me – 731-424-2206 is my office number.
Thanks! Spring is Coming!”
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
2846 Old Medina Rd.
Jackson, Tn. 38305
Ph.# 731-424-2206
http://www.cartercountry.com
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pond Tips, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Carter Country Boutique & Gifts, Christmas Gifts, Christmas is Coming, Christmas Magic, Christmas Pond Package, Christmas Season, Cool Season Koi Food, Family Pet, Feeding Koi, Fish Cave, Gifts With Meaning, Healthy Koi, Hump Day Koi Fix, Hump Day Koi Story, I ❤️ Koi, I Love Koi, Koi, Koi Castle, Koi Cave, Koi Fix, Koi Food, Koi Gifts, Koi Health, Koi Pond, Koi Ponds, Koi Shack, Koi Supplies, Love Your Pets, Pets, Pond Predators, Predator Control, Presents for Pets, Special Gift, Unique Gifts, Waterfall Wednesday, Wednesday
I Love ALL my pets! Including my Koi! I always get my Pups a special Christmas gift – A chew bone, a sweater, snacks, a new collar, etc… But what about my Koi???


I’ve been trying to think of a few things for my “Finned Friends”…
How about a scarf or onesie for the Koi?



A more practical gift would be food and snacks, but they can’t eat till spring…

A new “Koi Cave” would be a great Christmas gift idea!


Koi Castles are available at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio and can be installed most anytime.
The ULTIMATE CHRISTMAS GIFT for your Koi (and YOU) would be a Bigger, Better KOI POND complete with a custom Koi Cave & Nightlights! Boom 💥

I hope this helps! When I realized I was snubbing my Koi on Christmas, it hit me pretty hard… Never again! I’m getting something special this year for my ‘Finned Friends’ – aka: My Koi!
Merry Christmas! 🎅🏻🎄
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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Fall is in full swing! The sun is setting earlier every day & the temps are falling… And soon, the saddest part of the season will be paying us a visit… The time when we STOP feeding our Koi for the season 😔
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 Cool Season Koi Food to my Pond Pets?
– My Answer- Remember the rule of 50!

When the water temperature stabilizes below 50 degrees Fahrenheit you should stop feeding your Koi… Even Cool Season Koi Food… We like to call it the ‘Rule Of 50’… | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
Switching to a Cool Temperature Koi Food is very important for the health of your Koi! So is knowing when to stop feeding!

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 to wrap it up, keep a check on your water temp (via a floating thermometer) & when your water temp stabilizes below 50 degrees, you should transition from Cool Season Koi Food to NO More feeding for this season. That’s the “Rule of 50”…
Viva La’ Fall!
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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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!
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 to wrap it up, 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”… 😉
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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