Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
Ph.# 731-424-2206
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Hump Day Koi Fix | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
May 13, 2020, 8:06 am
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: Blog, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Hump Day, Hump Day Dreaming, Hump Day Koi Fix, Hump Day Koi Story, Koi Fix, Koi Health, Koi Health Tips, Koi Myths, Koi Shack, Koi Story, Nurseryfix, Pond Myth's, Pond Shack, Pond Tips, Water Gardening Answers, Water Gardening Questions
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: Blog, Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Hump Day, Hump Day Dreaming, Hump Day Koi Fix, Hump Day Koi Story, Koi Fix, Koi Health, Koi Health Tips, Koi Myths, Koi Shack, Koi Story, Nurseryfix, Pond Myth's, Pond Shack, Pond Tips, Water Gardening Answers, Water Gardening Questions
We are selling Koi again! And with selling comes questions. Some of the most basic questions I get time and time again, so here is a repost of some basic “Koi Myths” that I hear all the time… Have a Great Hump Day!
“It’s Wednesday, aka “Hump Day” and as usual the subject is Koi & Koi Pond’s 😊 We were discussing erroneous information & myths about Koi keeping that are out there, so I thought why not make a blog post about it… Here’s a quick “Top 5”…
#1 – You Can’t Be A Koi Keeper & A Water Gardener.
Not true! You can raise healthy koi In your beautiful water garden! The koi can grow up to be just as beautiful and healthy as they are in traditional koi ponds. Proper design is key! You will LOVE how they compliment each other 😊 I have installed Hundreds of beautiful Water Gardens with healthy happy Koi.
Koi and Water Gardens go together like peas and carrots 😊 | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
#2 – Predators Will Eat All Your Fish.
Again, Proper Design is key! Raccoons generally won’t swim. That’s not to say they never swim, or couldn’t stand on the side of your pond and take a paw swipe or two at your fish… Fortunately, most fish will swim to a deeper, more protected part of the pond when a predator is threatening them. The one predator with legitimate credentials is the blue heron. Plenty of lily pads give them some protection and will work to minimize attracting a heron in the first place. Other protection measures include a motion activated water sprayer called a “Scarecrow” or even better a “Koi-cave” structure that can be built in during the pond’s construction. IF you already have a pond, they can be added with minimum remodeling during a clean out service.
A Blue Heron is a major Predator of our Koi and pond fish! BUT, we can stop them from harming our ‘finned friends’! Tools like a “Scarecrow”, or a fish cave really help! In the Fall a leaf net helps with more than 1 task 😊
#3 – Your Pond Must Be (3) Three Feet Deep to Keep Koi.
There are literally tens of thousands of two-foot deep ponds all around this country, full of happy and healthy koi. The water in a two-foot deep pond will generally only freeze eight inches down in the coldest of climates, because of the insulating qualities of the earth that surrounds the pond – Here in West Tennessee usually not at all. Another Plus – a properly designed 2’ deep pond is easy to get in and out of 😉 Most of the ponds I have designed & built for the last 30 + years are 2’ deep and doing great! We can & do go deeper if the design calls for it of course, but don’t believe everything you read online!
#4 – Koi Can’t Be Kept With Plants.
In a naturally balanced ecosystem, koi and plants complement and need one another. In nature, fish feed on plants. As a result, the fish produce waste, which is broken down by aerobic bacteria on the bottom of your pond, which, in turn, is used as fertilizer by the plants to grow and produce more natural fish food. One tip I have learned from experience- start with small Koi, they will grow up with the plants and won’t bother them at all – like in nature.
This is one of my Display Water Gardens at Carters Nursery Pond & Patio – The Aquatic Plants & Koi have been doing great here for almost 30 years!
#5 – If You Forget To Feed Your Koi They Will All Die.
Totally False! In a properly designed & stocked pond, the ecological balance will amaze you! Crystal clear water, thriving aquatic plants & a healthy eco-system are your reward! We all Love to feed our babies, but if you miss a few days they will get busy doing some “pond keeping” of their own! 😊 They will ‘Thrive’, not simply survive! The key is to “Stay in Balance”!
I hope this helps!
– Happy Pondering!
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
Ph.# 731-424-2206
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What if my Pond Pump goes out? What do I do? | Pond Maintenance Tips | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
April 28, 2020, 7:31 am
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Aeration System., Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Garden Pond Pump, High Efficiency Pump, Koi Health, Pond Aeration, Pond Maintenance, Pond Maintenance Tips, Pond Pumps, Submersible Pump, Water Garden Aeration, Water Garden Pump, Waterfall Pumps
Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: Aeration System., Carters Nursery Pond and Patio, Garden Pond Pump, High Efficiency Pump, Koi Health, Pond Aeration, Pond Maintenance, Pond Maintenance Tips, Pond Pumps, Submersible Pump, Water Garden Aeration, Water Garden Pump, Waterfall Pumps
Having a Waterfall right outside your back door is a magical thing indeed! 😊 Ahhh, the soothing sights & sounds… BUT, when it quits running, it’s NEVER at an opportune moment! No indeed! Your either out of town, or it’s scorching HOT 🥵 and your fish are gasping for air, or it’s winter and your pond freezes solid… Your Pond Pump Never goes out at an opportune moment!
Your Waterfall serves many purposes. It’s the central focal point of the Feature, but it also aerates the pond and circulates the water, VERY important for your aquatic life. If your Pond Pump is out, ALL of this stops… | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
Your Pump is the heart of your Pond! When it stops running, it’s important to have a backup plan! Many people keep a small pump that can be placed in shallow water to “flash the surface” , this will help to keep oxygen in the water while you get a replacement Pond Pump to power your Waterfall.
Pond Pumps come in different shapes and sizes! It’s a great idea to have a backup pump in case of an outage! It could save your sanity and you’re Koi’s life. | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
Many of my clients also have an aeration system in their Pond. This helps to oxygenate the water and it’s unlikely that the pump and the aeration system will fail at the same time. I recommend powering them on separate circuits in case of GFCI interruptions.
Having an Aeration System on your Pond is a great way to maintain oxygen levels for your finned friends. Plug your system into a different outlet & circuit than your pump for even more assurance. We have systems for Ponds large and small at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio.
– Many of my clients take care of their own pumps and maintenance, which is Great! But even more simply call me to take care of their needs. I have a complete maintenance service available to help you and your Pond. Simply call 731-424-2206 for assistance. We stock most pumps and aeration systems and will get you fixed up in a jiffy!
I hope this little bit of info on pumps and ponds was helpful! Like the old man says, “Knowing is half the battle”!
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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Hump Day Koi Fix | Is It Time To Feed My Koi Yet? Remember The Rule Of 50 | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
March 4, 2020, 7:43 am
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: 50, 50 Degree Rule, Almost Spring, Can I Feed My Koi, Cool Season Koi Food, Cool Season Water Treatments, Cool Temp Koi Food, Feeding Koi, Floating Pond Thermometer, Koi Health, Pond Thermometer, Seasonal Koi Feeding Temperatures, Seasonal Koi Feeding Times, Spring Feeding, The Rule of 50, Water Temperature
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Sunrises, Sunsets, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: 50, 50 Degree Rule, Almost Spring, Can I Feed My Koi, Cool Season Koi Food, Cool Season Water Treatments, Cool Temp Koi Food, Feeding Koi, Floating Pond Thermometer, Koi Health, Pond Thermometer, Seasonal Koi Feeding Temperatures, Seasonal Koi Feeding Times, Spring Feeding, The Rule of 50, Water Temperature
I post info on seasonal feeding times, temperatures, what’s best for fish health every year about this time. Sure enough it’s that time again! I had 2 calls today asking if they could start feeding their Koi again… I said, Check your Pond thermometer & “Remember the rule of 50”! 😊
“I’ve been hawking my Pond Thermometer these last few weeks! The temperature of the water has been steadily rising as the days get longer and we approach Spring. As usual, I will start the feeding season with Cool Temp Koi Food when the water temp has stabilized over 50 + degrees. The “rule of 50” I like to call it 😉
It’s about time to start feeding our Koi “Cool Temp. Fish Food” & even some fresh fruits and veggies like peas, oranges, grapefruit & softened carrots again! YES!!! I ❤️ Spring! Just remember to read the thermometer 🌡 & follow the “Rule of 50”! Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
This is my favorite season of the year! Everything is waking up! Including my KOI! They have been VERY active lately! And literally begging for food 😊 It’s so hard to wait… But, it’s part of the process & it’s so important for our finned friends health and well being.
Keep your Koi happy and healthy as we transition into Spring. Use quality Cool Temperature Koi Food from Carters Nursery Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee | I ❤️ Koi!
So, to wrap it up…
The Rule of 50 = Let the water temp stabilize for at least a week at 50+ degrees Fahrenheit before you start to feed your koi in the Spring. AND, when you do start back to feeding, use a quality, Cool Season Koi Food! And don’t over feed! Happier days are here again 😊
Happy Pondering 🤔
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
Ph.# 731-424-2206
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Help us ‘Ring in Spring’ on the 21st! Check it out | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
February 27, 2020, 7:22 am
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Hummingbirds, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunrises, Sunsets, Videos, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Aquatic Plants, Bring Your Family, Family Fun, Family time, I Love Animals, Koi Health, Koi Health Tips, Learning, Maintenance Tips, Maintenance Workshop, Petting Zoo, Pond Cleaning Supplies, Pond Maintenance, Ponds for Kids, Saturday Fun, Spring Fest., Spring Festival, Spring Follows Winter, Spring Pond Maintenance, Water Garden Maintenance
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Herbs, Hummingbirds, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Landscaping & Gardening, Love, music, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Pondless Waterfalls, Sunrises, Sunsets, Videos, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Aquatic Plants, Bring Your Family, Family Fun, Family time, I Love Animals, Koi Health, Koi Health Tips, Learning, Maintenance Tips, Maintenance Workshop, Petting Zoo, Pond Cleaning Supplies, Pond Maintenance, Ponds for Kids, Saturday Fun, Spring Fest., Spring Festival, Spring Follows Winter, Spring Pond Maintenance, Water Garden Maintenance
3 weeks from today is the 1st day of Spring! Come join us Saturday morning, the 21st of March and helps us celebrate the season!
Come join us for a day of family fun & learning! | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
Check out our video 👇🏻
What: Carters Nursery, Pond & Patios 22nd. Annual Spring Festival & Aquatic Workshop
Where: Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio – 2846 Old Medina Rd. in Jackson, Tn.
When: Saturday, March 21st. from 9am till 2pm.
WHY should I come? It’s going to be a FUN filled day for the whole family! AND it’s FREE! Bring the kids to the Petting Zoo! BIG Specials for the Spring Season and “How To” Classes taught by the best in the Biz.!
For more information give us a call : # 731-424-2206 or http://www.cartercountry.com/ Y’all Come!
Monday Morning Moment Of Zen | Koi | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
February 24, 2020, 7:12 am
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Videos, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: #fishyfriday, 50 Degree Rule, Feeding Koi, Fish, Fish Feeding, Fish Food, Fish Health, Fish net, Fish Sale, Happy Koi, Healthy Fish, Healthy Koi, Koi Food, Koi for sale, Koi Health, Koi Nets, Koi Shack, Koi Supplies, Moment of Zen, Monday Morning Moment of Zen, Monday’s, Morning Zen, Pond Fish, Quality Koi, The Rule of 50, Water Temperature, Zen, Zen Video, Zen Waterfall
Filed under: Family time, Food, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Lake and Pond, Love, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, Videos, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: #fishyfriday, 50 Degree Rule, Feeding Koi, Fish, Fish Feeding, Fish Food, Fish Health, Fish net, Fish Sale, Happy Koi, Healthy Fish, Healthy Koi, Koi Food, Koi for sale, Koi Health, Koi Nets, Koi Shack, Koi Supplies, Moment of Zen, Monday Morning Moment of Zen, Monday’s, Morning Zen, Pond Fish, Quality Koi, The Rule of 50, Water Temperature, Zen, Zen Video, Zen Waterfall
It’s a bit warmer in the Koi house so they get to start eating a little earlier than Koi who live in an outdoor Pond. I know you all are ready to get back to feeding them again, but it’s not quite warm enough yet… So I though you might enjoy a glimpse of what’s to come 😊
Spring is coming quick! Are you ready?
Who’s ready to enjoy a ‘Moment of Zen’ by their pond again? 😊 | Just Remember the Rule of 50 & be ready, because Spring is Coming!
Have a Zen filled Monday & a GREAT week!
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 : My Koi Pond Is Frozen! Don’t Break The ICE! | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
January 21, 2020, 7:24 am
Filed under: Family time, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Landscaping & Gardening, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: 5 gallon Bucket, Cold Winter, Don’t Break The Ice, Dry Hose, Floating Pond De-icer, Ice, Ice Safety, Koi Health, Koi Pond, Maintenance Tips, Never Break The Ice, pond, Pond Help, Pond Maintenance Tips, Pond Tip, Pond Tips, Water Garden, Water Garden Help, Winter Koi care, Winter Pond Help, Winter Pond Tips, Winter Waterfall, Yard Ponds
Filed under: Family time, Fountains, General Blog Entry's, God Bless America, Koi, Koi Ponds, Landscaping & Gardening, Nursery, Outdoor Lifestyles, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: 5 gallon Bucket, Cold Winter, Don’t Break The Ice, Dry Hose, Floating Pond De-icer, Ice, Ice Safety, Koi Health, Koi Pond, Maintenance Tips, Never Break The Ice, pond, Pond Help, Pond Maintenance Tips, Pond Tip, Pond Tips, Water Garden, Water Garden Help, Winter Koi care, Winter Pond Help, Winter Pond Tips, Winter Waterfall, Yard Ponds
10 degree windchill this morning 🥶 Brrr! Ice Ice Baby! But, don’t worry, it will be ok… Just don’t break the ice!
Don’t break the ice! It will harm your Koi! The powerful shock waves created by a blow to the ice can break their bones and rupture organs!
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! 😊
It’s cold for a few days, but it will warm soon. Lets take care of our finned friends ❤️
Spring is Coming ! 💐
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
Ph.# 731-424-2206
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Hump Day Koi Fix | Koi Myths Made Right | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
December 4, 2019, 9:18 am
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, Pondless Waterfalls, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Aquatic Plants, Deep Thoughts, Ecosystem Pond, Erroneous Information, Feeding Koi, Koi Health, Koi info, Koi Myths, Leaf Netting, Pond Ecology, Pond info, Pond Netting, Pond Predators, Predator Control, Water Garden info
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, Pondless Waterfalls, water garden, Waterfalls | Tags: Aquatic Plants, Deep Thoughts, Ecosystem Pond, Erroneous Information, Feeding Koi, Koi Health, Koi info, Koi Myths, Leaf Netting, Pond Ecology, Pond info, Pond Netting, Pond Predators, Predator Control, Water Garden info
Here’s a very relevant ‘repost’ from 1 year ago. There’s so much bad info out there about Koi Pond and Water Gardens, we need to dispel and Correct it! Happy Hump Day!
“It’s Wednesday, aka “Hump Day” and as usual the subject is Koi 😊 We were discussing erroneous information & myths about Koi keeping that are out there, so I thought why not make a blog post about it… Here’s a quick “Top 5”…
#1 – You Can’t Be A Koi Keeper & A Water Gardener.
Not true! You can raise healthy koi In your beautiful water garden! The koi can grow up to be just as beautiful and healthy as they are in traditional koi ponds. Proper design is key! You will LOVE how they compliment each other 😊 I have installed Hundreds of beautiful Water Gardens with healthy happy Koi.
Koi and Water Gardens go together like peas and carrots 😊 | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
#2 – Predators Will Eat All Your Fish.
Again, Proper Design is key! Raccoons generally won’t swim. That’s not to say they never swim, or couldn’t stand on the side of your pond and take a paw swipe or two at your fish… Fortunately, most fish will swim to a deeper, more protected part of the pond when a predator is threatening them. The one predator with legitimate credentials is the blue heron. Plenty of lily pads give them some protection and will work to minimize attracting a heron in the first place. Other protection measures include a motion activated water sprayer called a “Scarecrow” or even better a “Koi-cave” structure that can be built in during the pond’s construction. IF you already have a pond, they can be added with minimum remodeling during a clean out service.
A Blue Heron is a major Predator of our Koi and pond fish! BUT, we can stop them from harming our ‘finned friends’! Tools like a “Scarecrow”, or a fish cave really help! In the Fall a leaf net helps with more than 1 task 😊
#3 – Your Pond Must Be (3) Three Feet Deep to Keep Koi.
There are literally tens of thousands of two-foot deep ponds all around this country, full of happy and healthy koi. The water in a two-foot deep pond will generally only freeze eight inches down in the coldest of climates, because of the insulating qualities of the earth that surrounds the pond – Here in West Tennessee usually not at all. Another Plus – a properly designed 2’ deep pond is easy to get in and out of 😉
#4 – Koi Can’t Be Kept With Plants.
In a naturally balanced ecosystem, koi and plants complement and need one another. In nature, fish feed on plants. As a result, the fish produce waste, which is broken down by aerobic bacteria on the bottom of your pond, which, in turn, is used as fertilizer by the plants to grow and produce more natural fish food. One tip I have learned from experience- start with small Koi, they will grow up with the plants and won’t bother them at all – like in nature.
This is one of my Display Water Gardens at Carters Nursery Pond & Patio – The Aquatic Plants & Koi have been doing great here for almost 30 years!
#5 – If You Forget To Feed Your Koi They Will All Die.
Totally False! In a properly designed & stocked pond, the ecological balance will amaze you! Crystal clear water, thriving aquatic plants & a healthy eco-system are your reward! We all Love to feed our babies, but if you miss a few days they will get busy doing some “pond keeping” of their own! 😊 They will ‘Thrive’, not simply survive! The key is to “Stay in Balance”!
Happy Pondering! & Merry Christmas 🎄 🎅🏻
Mark Carter
Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
Ph.# 731-424-2206
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