I have been asked a few times on the radio lately about composting, so I went back in the archives and pulled this up. This was 1st published over 10 years ago!
A big blowing storm just came through and left plenty of leaves 🍁 to get us all started…
“Fall is one of my Favorite seasons! Cooler weather, fall planting and gardening and all the great family gatherings and food are wonderful. Fall is also a GREAT time to start a Compost Pile. All those leaves, plants and grasses that you have to cut back and all of the upcoming holiday food scraps add up too a great supply of usable components in a compost pile!
Starting a Compost pile is quick , easy and won’t cost you anything to get started! Compost is one of nature’s best mulches and soil amendments and you can use it instead of chemical fertilizers. Compost improves soil structure, texture and increases the soil’s water-holding capacity. Compost loosens clay soils and helps sandy soils to retain water. The organic matter in compost provides food for microorganisms, which in turn keeps the soil in a healthy, balanced condition. Nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus are produced naturally by the feeding of microorganisms, so few if any soil amendments will need to be added.
It’s easy to get started .
-Bag your grass clippings or mulch up all those leaves for the compost pile!
-Save those kitchen scraps and add them to the compost pile. Kitchen scraps are typically high in nitrogen, which helps heat up the compost pile and speed up the composting process. Egg shells, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peels and scraps are good candidates for the compost pie. But DON’T add meat, grease or other animal products!
– With a compost pile, bigger is often better. Heat builds up with a bigger pile, but you don’t want to get much bigger than about 3 feet by 3 feet, if it’s too big it can be hard to work around. Multiple piles may be in order .
– Aerate your compost! If you are composting with a pile, or in a static (non-tumbling) compost bin, be sure to mix up the contents so that the pile gets oxygen and can break down effectively. Turn it with a pitch fork from time to time .
– Don’t let the compost completely dry out. A compost pile needs moisture to keep the composting process active , BUT , don’t keep it too wet.
– Too much of any one material will slow down the composting process. If you have all leaves, all grass clippings or an overload of any other single type of material, it can throw off the balance of the pile. It’s best to keep a balanced mix of green (nitrogen) and brown (carbon) materials.
When ready, this compost will be wonderful for the whole garden!
Good Luck and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!”
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 Gates open at 8am.
We got what you need for your Garden!
We also have a YUGE supply of “Pond Stuff”…
Don’t forget the Boutique… Gifts, clothes, garden deco…
We have been at it since early. Im just getting through with my watering and am heading up front…
Y’all come! The gates open at 8am!
Mark. Carter
The Gates open at 8am. Y’all Come get your Nursery on! It’s time to get a ‘Nurseryfix’.
We got what you want!!We got what you Need!
We also have a YUGE supply of “Pond Stuff”…
We have been at it since early ⏰ I just got through watering and remembered to make this post 🤪
Y’all come! The gates opened at 8am! 😊
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 rain has eased up, the soil is dry, the time is right… Let’s do some Gardening! We are open today from 8-2 to help 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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We are short staffed today, BUT, we are here to help 😊 We are open 8 till 2 to serve… YOU!
Even a misty Saturday, is a Great day!
Have a Great Weekend!
Mark C.
Yes! The weekend is finally here 💥 Its a little cool out there, but hey, it’s Springtime in Tennessee… 😉
Come by and get a little something for your garden or Landscape… Here’s a few shots I just took this morning 👇🏻
Or grab some topsoil, mulch or stone.
Saturday’s are for Garden shoppers at Carters!
Y’all Come! We’re open today 8 – 2pm!
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! I’m walking in the studios of WNWS 101.5 FM, right here in beautiful Downtown Jackson, TN! I am going LIVE from 9-11am With Dan Reaves and Seabass on the 360! We are going to talk about Outdoor Living, Gardening and the season that is upon us… SPRING!!! 🍀
LOTS of stuff happening in the garden right now!
– Trimming and pruning!
– Clean up under your fruit trees! And apply dormant oil IF the buds haven’t broken…
– Design and planting of shrubs and trees!
– Mulching! And… Gardening is back!
We are open today until 4pm! And Tomorrow 8am – 2pm.!
– Call your friends and y’all Tune in! 93.1 or 101.5 FM 9-11am. Today! Jackson, TN
– Call in with ALL you questions! 731-891-6161
Thank you! I hope you all have a great 1st. weekend Of SPRING!!!🍀 🌺 🌼
PS: Carters Nursery is open to serve you! Please be courteous and wear your mask when inside the office … God Bless🙏🏻
– I’m on the 360 with Sea Bass & Dan Reaves Fridays from 9-11am Call in with ALL your Outdoor Living questions 731-891-6161
Have a Great Friday!
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 LOVE ❤️ Homegrown Tomatoes! 🍅 Like many of you, I just hate when my plants are attacked by the dreaded Tomato Hornworms! They can devour a plant overnight and ruin your yields. So, I keep an eye on my plants daily & pick them off quickly… Unless I see one that has been visited by a parasitic wasp. Then, I just leave it be…
In a healthy, organic garden, don’t use chemicals! Let natural predators take care of business | Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio
Here’s a link to more info on this wonderful, natural predator, the Parasitic Wasp 👇🏻
https://ugaurbanag.com/tomato-hornworms-and-parasitic-wasps/
Late season Tomatoes 🍅 are the best! I think we are in for a bumper crop of September, October & maybe even November Tomatoes 🍅! Organic just tastes better 😊
Fall 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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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 🤔
The pools are open and Summertime is upon us! So in that spirit, ALL our hanging baskets are ON – SALE! Boom 💥
The Hanging Baskets are YUGE! 5 for $50! Yes, you heard me correctly!
Boston fern, Kimberly Queen, Macho fern, Petunias, Purple Hearts, Wandering Jew, and more! 5 for $50! 💥
Come on by and load up on some beauty! Right now, we can use all the beauty we can get ❤️
Have a Great Thursday!
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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Carter's Water Garden 
