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?
Many times when you have fish disappear from your pond, it’s this guy! The sneaky, Great Blue Heron…
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.
Decoys can really help to detour Pond Predators! We sell these at Carters Nursery in Jackson, TN
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 –
A koi castle is an easy to install protector for you pond fish. It will provide them cover from Pond Predators! We stock these at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
Wait, there’s more…
Even fun decoys like this alligator can help to keep Pond Predators at bay! They also look cool. We sell these at Carters Nursery in Jackson, TN
And don’t forget –
A scarecrow really works to run off Pond Predators like Heron, raccoons, unwanted pets, etc. We sell these at Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio in Jackson, TN. Call for info at 731-424-2206
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.
A built in Koi Cave is functional & looks Awesome!
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.
All I can say is WOW! It doesn’t feel like a November morning… It feels like Spring out there! It’s going to be 78 degrees today and in honor of this gorgeous weather we are having a ‘November Spring Sale’! 💥
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.
Don’t break the ice! It will harm your Koi! Instead, melt a hole 🕳 in the Ice with hot tap water.
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!
I recently had the pleasure to meet the Ladies of the Helen Schult Garden Club in Caruthersville, Missouri and to speak for their members on my favorite subject- Water Gardening! Any time I can share my knowledge of this wonderful hobby and Lifestyle, I’m in 😊
Practicing with my new selfie 🤳 stick… The host is preparing to introduce me…I did a video presentation followed by a Q&A and then we did a garden walkover/tour of the hosts backyard paradise!
The meeting took place at a local members beautiful home, that actually has a Water Garden (that we helped her with)… Her family really enjoys the “Outdoor Lifestyle” that I talk about all the time. Her backyard living area is second to none! Custom paved patio space with an outdoor kitchen, bar and sitting/lounging area beneath a custom Pergola. Complete with a Fire 🔥 feature, a Water Feature and gorgeous pottery and plants… Shang-ra-la…
The real star ⭐️ of the show ❤️The Water Garden sits right beside the patio and provides views from all areas of the backyard. The sound is wonderful! And the Koi are growing and multiplying 😊The sun was in my eyes when I took this one so please forgive the squint 😎 What a wonderful group of Ladies! Thank you to all the members of the Helen Schult Garden Club! Happy Halloween 🎃 And Happy Holidays from Mark Carter & Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio!
I came across this picture of an article about last Springs Maintenance Workshop & Spring Fest. Event. Sure was tough this season missing out on all the fun stuff… But I know things happen that are out of our control and we do what we must…
That being said, I sure am looking forward to seeing things get back to some sense of normal soon! We will continue to respect others space by social distancing and keeping things clean for our clients! And even though we weren’t able to hold Large Public events like our Maintenance Workshops & Waterfall Classes, we are here to personally help you as always! I love #throwbackthursday!
I came across this photo as I was organizing files and it really made me think. We have missed all our yearly events this year because of Covid. I sure looking forward to next year and getting back together.
Pictures take you back! I guess that’s why we call it #throwbackthursday 😊
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!
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
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
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”… 😉
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
Good Morning! I’m coming at ya’ LIVE from WNWS Studio in Downtown Jackson Tennessee! I am in the studio with Sea Bass, aka: The White Coconut 🥥 And, if you keep your finger on the redial button and manage to get through on our incredibly backed up phone lines, YOU get the mic 🎙 YOU get to ask the questions! YOU set the topic of conversation! We will make YOU Famous! 💥
NO subject is off the table, BUT, “Outdoor Living & Gardening” is #1 with me 😊 Drop me a call with ALL your questions at 731-423-8101 OR text your questions & comments to 731-277-5155!
– Tune in! WNWS 101.5 FM 9-11am. Today! Jackson, TN – Call in with ALL you questions! 731-423-8101! – Text your questions to 731-277-5155 We will do our best to answer them ALL!
OR you can TEXT us at 731-277-5155. Listen LIVE at 101.5 WNWS – FM Talk Radio – on your smart phone using your TuneIn app.!
Bulk & Bagged Mulch Potting Mix Soil Amendments Seeds Hanging Baskets Annuals Perennials Stone Yard Gravel Pond Supplies Koi & Goldfish Much much more! We have a Full Line of Pond Supplies and Water Treatments in stock at Carters Nursery!
Keeping your pond clear and healthy is easy with our Organic Water Treatments.
Keep your water crystal clear & your Koi healthy and happy with Water Treatments from Carters Nursery, Pond & Patio | 2846 Old Medina Rd. Jackson, Tennessee
We also have some great Garden Gifts 💝
We have some very unique gifts and garden art at Carters Nursery!
We have some Healthy, Beautiful KOI!!! Every Friday is Fishy Friday! Come in Today and get a great discount on Koi! 20% of your entire order 💥
For the entire month of August every Friday is a “Fishy Friday”! That means all of the fish you purchase are at a 20% discount! | TGIFF! | Carter’s Nursery, Pond & Patio | Jackson, TN
PS: Carters Nursery is open to serve you! But, please remember to be courteous, wear your mask and keep your social distance … God Bless🙏🏻
Have a great Weekend!
I’m on the 180 with Sea Bass- every Friday from 9-11am Call in with ALL your gardening and Outdoor Lifestyle questions at 731-423-8101. OR you can TEXT us at 731-277-5155. Listen LIVE at 101.5 WNWS – FM Talk Radio – on your smart phone using your TuneIn app.!
