Almost everyone can use a pond cleaning! We recommend everyone get a thorough cleaning of their pond at least once a year, usually in the spring. Why is a thorough cleaning needed in an ecosystem pond? Organic matter builds up over time, especially in winter months. When spring comes, the organic matter starts breaking down, […]

Koi and goldfish both have a dorsal (top) fin, an assortment of bottom fins, and the caudal (tail) fin as well as a few others. The dorsal fin in koi is extremely vulnerable to ulceration and it’s not uncommon for the mildest of bacterial infections to erode a hole right in the middle of it! […]

Koi and other pond fish will feed on natural sources such as algae and wayward insects, but they’ll benefit from a prepared, quality fish food. Just like other pet foods, not all fish food is created equal. You want to look for food that contains a high-quality protein along with stabilized multivitamins and probiotics. Make […]

• Lawns trap more than 12 million tons of dust and dirt annually. • Turfgrass, like that found in our lawns, is much cooler than asphalt or cement. It acts as an “air conditioner” for the surrounding area (lawns can be 22 degrees cooler than urban asphalt “heat islands”). • Healthy turfgrass has many miles […]

One of the best strategies for keeping your yard beautiful throughout the year is learning when particular plants look their best. You can use this knowledge to create a staggered planting plan. Rather than having your entire yard bloom at the same time and look its best only in spring or summer, formulating the right […]

Creating a balanced environment in your pond with lots of different plants and water creatures will bring more wildlife to your area. Expect to see dragonflies and damselflies buzzing around the plants at the edge of your pond. In addition, perennial flowers will draw in butterflies and bees. An abundance of insects will entice frogs […]

It’s generally recommended to water plants in the early morning. This allows the plants to absorb moisture and utilize it throughout the day. Watering in the morning also helps prevent fungal diseases by allowing foliage to dry off during the day. Watering during the hottest part of the day can lead to excessive evaporation, resulting […]

Maximize your vegetable patch’s productivity in early August by planting fast-maturing crops like eggplants, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes. To grow cool-season vegetables such as collards, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, and spinach, start them from seed now. Plant the seeds in flats and keep them in a shady spot for optimal growth.

July’s hot, humid weather means a spark in insect and disease populations. Be especially diligent this month in your pest prevention methods. Check plants and grass regularly for signs of infestation or disease, properly identify the pest responsible, and then research the best kill method for that particular insect. Pesticides are usually specific to certain […]

In an ideal environment, an adult koi can reach a whopping 3 feet long. Under most conditions your finned koi will not grow to that immense length, but there are ways to reach its full potential. Koi will keep growing throughout their lives. How fast and large they grow depend on several factors, including: • […]