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
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Brrr! 🥶 Baby, it’s COLD outside! I think the Pond is frozen… What do I do? As my nephew the Eagle Scout says, “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!
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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Good morning! It’s Pond Tip Tuesday again, and I want to try to get ahead of the weather a little bit and talk about the inevitable problem that comes with Winter… Ice 🧊
As a matter of fact, we got down to 28 degrees night before last, and it’s just now November.
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!
My Pond Tip today is be ready for the ice! Have a floating heater on hand. Or a small pump to use in freezing weather to keep a hole open. And don’t forget that dry hose and 5 gallon bucket! They will be your best friend if and when the temperatures plummet!
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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The color change is happening in earnest now! The leaves are gold, orange, red & so beautiful to see. But soon, they will all fall, and that’s when we have to watch for the dreaded “Leaf Dams” that accompany Fall!
So my ‘Pond Tip’ Of the week is to keep your streams and waterfalls clear of fallen leaves and debris. This preventative maintenance, will save you later on down the road 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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My Pond Tip for today is – Stay ahead of the coming leaf 🍂 fall with a POND NET!
– Pond Netting is your friend! The main reason to net your Water Feature in the Fall is to help with leaf and debris control. All the Ponds that I personally design and install have a skimmer system (mechanical Filter) that already removes an incredible amount of leaf debris. You simply empty that skimmer basket from time to time and have little to no leaf or debris problems. BUT, if you have a lot of trees in your Landscape as well, a Fall Leaf 🍁 Net may be in order. Depending on your leaf debris load, a skimmer might still need the help of a simple leaf net to keep up during peak leaf fall…
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
Pond netting is inexpensive and we cut it to fit!
We stock bulk pond 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.
HOW do you install Pond Netting?
You simply pull the net over the Pond’s surface and secure it along the edges. Some ponds will allow for a tight stretched net over the surface but some times we install risers to make a “Tent” effect of the net. This helps shed the leaf debris to the edges to make it easier to dispose of them.
You can use risers and bows fashioned from PVC pipe to make a frame for your Pond Netting that will stand up to the elements. Easy to erect and easy to tear down too. | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
Keeping the leaves and other fall debris out of your Pond is a good thing! Leaf debris is unsightly, it also quickly starts to decompose releasing many compounds that are bad for your fish. In turn algae is fed by the decomposing leaf matter and oxygen is depleted. ALL of these things combined can be catastrophic for the health of your finned friends, in heavy leaf fall areas, it can even kill them.
ALSO – in the Fall and Winter most of the aquatic plants are asleep, leaving very little cover for your Koi… Pond Predators, like Blue Herons strike most often in the Fall and Winter… BUT, Blue Herons can’t get your treasured Koi through the Pond Netting! So that’s another big plus for having a Pond Net!
A Blue Heron is major Predator of our Koi and pond fish! BUT, we can stop them from harming our ‘finned friends’! Simple pTools like a Fall leaf net can help with more than 1 task 😊
So to wrap this up – IF you have a LOT of trees in your landscape that shed leaves in the Fall, a Leaf Net might be for YOU! AND – if you have Koi that you love and want to protect from predators, leaf netting could help you too.
FYI: You can get leaf netting for your pond at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio! We always keep 10′ and 20′ widths in stock, we cut to order and it’s very inexpensive. Questions? Call me at 731-424-2206
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We try to help people learn how to take care of their Ponds throughout the seasons in an efficient manner. One important way to stay ahead of water quality issues in the Fall is to cut back and remove the Aquatic Plant waste before frost. And more importantly, before it gets to cold to get in your pond…
My Pond Tip today is – Start sooner than later on Seasonal Aquatic Plant cutback & cleanup!
What do I need to do to my Pond in the Fall? I get this question a LOT at Carters Nursery Pond & Patio this time of the year! #1 Cut those aquatic plants back!
Aquatic Plants are a big part of a healthy ecosystem! They absorb all manner of pollution and nutrients from the water and store them in their plant tissues helping to clean and purify the water. BUT, if the plants are allowed to die and decompose in the pond all those nutrients and compounds are released right back into the water! This will create YUGE Water Quality issues! Algae blooms, Green Water, Bad Smells & Fish Health issues – even fish death 💀!
Yes, you even need to cut back your Lotus plants. AND, sink their containers to a lower depth in your pond to protect them from Winter temps | Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
Trimming your Aquatic Plants back is fairly simple to do, It doesn’t take too long & it will pay dividends in Water Quality & Fish Health!
If you have any questions or need some help, feel free to give me a call at the office – 731-424-2206
Thanks & Happy Pondering 😊
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It’s officially September! That means Summer is winding down, and soon… Fall will be here 🍁
This weeks Pond Tip – Be Ready!
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
Cooler temps = Cool Temp Koi Food, Cool Temp Bacteria & other Cool Temp Water Treatments! Protect the health of your ‘Finned Friends’ AND Keep your Water clean and healthy! Stay ahead of the season and stock up now!
Cool Season Water Treatments are important! Keep using your Cool Season Beneficial Bacteria throughout the Fall and Winter for a cleaner, healthier pond. | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio
Also, Fall leaves 🍁 will be coming down soon enough… So be ahead of the game! Get a leaf net for your Pond! AND, have a Dip Net handy! It will help tremendously during the Fall and Winter months.
We stock bulk pond 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.
And, don’t get wet! Grab the dip/debris net!
A small Pond Net with an extendable handle is a must have if your a Pond Owner in my opinion! Especially going into Fall! Get yours at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | 2846 Old Medina Rd. Jackson, Tennessee
So, my Pond Tip is – Stay ahead of the upcoming Fall season and as always, ‘Be Prepared’!
Have a wonderful “Pond Tip Tuesday”!
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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I try to pass along helpful advice to help with your Ponds… Here is a blog post from a year ago that covers where we are in the season right now. I hope you like it 😊
Summer Pond Maintenance
My pond has been exceptionally beautiful this season! LOTS of lily blooms, the lotus have been showing out & there is so much lush foliage.
My Water Garden plants have been so beautiful this year! But to keep them looking great they need a little TLC | Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
One of the #1 things to do right now is keep your lilies & lotus fed (fertilized) to keep them performing into late summer and fall. It’s very simple to do! Come by and grab a container of Aquatic Plant Fertilizer Tabs. One of us will show you how to poke em’ down into the root zone of the plant – Done!
AND #2 is to keep your aquatic plant growth in check! All this Hot weather has them growing like weeds 😊
- selectively trim marginal aquatics to keep in check and to promote strong compact growth.
- remove yellowed unattractive Lilly pads & spent blooms to Promote new growth and bloom.
- Keep Waterfalls & streams free and clear of excessive plant growth and debris! A plant dam will cause a leak every time!
Koi Love to be hand fed! If yours aren’t eating from your hand yet, try feeding at the same time daily and have patience, it takes a little while to win them over, but once you do, it will be worth the effort 😊 Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, Tennessee
– Enjoy your Koi! Feed them quality Koi food, but don’t over feed! Over feeding can cause water quality issues…
A little touch up now will pay dividends for the rest of the season! Get out there and enjoy 😉
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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As a ‘Pond Enthusiast’ I am always looking for ideas & tips to keep my Water Garden cleaner and ways to have less maintenance. Then I like to share them with you 😊 One of the biggies is Proper Filtration! Keeping the water clean & clear! And also, keeping the algae and sludge to a minimum… That brings me to today’s Pond Tip : 👇🏻
– Algae Eating Japanese Trapdoor Snails (Viviparis malleatus). 💥
These snails are highly sought after by Pond Keepers. They are non-invasive, hardy & will help to keep algae under control in your Water Garden! Japanese Trapdoor Snails will work around your entire Pond consuming decaying organic matter like algae, leaves, excess fish food, and fish waste.
Japanese Trapdoor Snails are hardy and can live up to 5 years! They really help to keep your pond clean. Here’s one we just pulled out of a pond at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio during a clean out demonstration | Jackson, TN
Japanese Trapdoor Snails are “Live-Bearing” and only breed a couple of times per year – So they won’t take over your pond! Unlike other snails that can breed out of control.
Japanese trapdoor Snails do a great job helping with Pond Maintenance and they only cost around $5 each.
I try to always have some available for purchase. You need to have around 10 Japanese Trapdoor Snails per 50 sq. ft. of surface area of pond and they really make a difference!
There you have it… Pond Tip Tuesday lives on…
Happy Pondering 🤔
Mark Carter
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Good morning! 🌞 Its going to be another hot, sticky day in the south!
The hot days of Summer increase evaporation in your Ponds and Pools. Don’t forget to add water!
Have you noticed that you have to add more water to your pond on Hot 🥵 Days like this? It’s purely from evaporation! Don’t forget to top off your Water Garden from time to time to keep up.
OR, check out my little Pond Tip for this week…
We sell and install an Auto Fill Unit for your Pond! The float on the end kicks it into action when it reaches the desired level and it fills it back up for you! Talk about Low Maintenance! 💥
We sell and Install ‘Auto Fill Valves’ specifically made for your Water Garden or Pond. They are fairly simple to install and set up and virtually invisible in your skimmer.
Can you imagine not having to worry about adding water over the Hot Summer months?
Boom💥 This is my offering for your Pond Tip this week 😊 To me it’s all about Low Maintenance! Less work and more enjoyment!
Enjoy the Pond Tip! And 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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