Do you realize Summer is almost over? For many children it ended the day they had to return to school in whatever form that was. Many of us of a different generation remember when school didn’t start until after Labor Day. That was the end of our Summers. Here at the store we’ve had an unusually wet Summer for our area which has pluses and minuses. The grass is really pretty and green (+); the grass is growing like weeds (-); the ponds are full, oops, the heat and wind and humidity are causing much evaporation (+/-). I hope you all are watching your water levels carefully. Nothing worse then replacing a pump through our own negligence.

It is time to start planning for your Fall prep. For those with trees nearby, you might want to install your nets this early to keep the pond as clean as possible. Of course, you should clean out any debris that has accumulated over the Summer before you cover it otherwise you’ll have big time problems next Spring when you open it. If you haven’t netted your pond before, you’ll have to figure out how you’re going to keep the net from sagging into the water when it accumulates leaves. A PVC pipe frame, wooden beams across, bows of pipe, something. Atlantic/Oase has a pond protector with shock corded fiberglass poles similar to a camping tent that support the net over small and medium ponds with enough extra net to cover a short waterfall and stream. I know it’s a pain but you’re going to have to remove your net later to trim your marginal plants unless you do it this early so you can net. If you leave them until Spring, you run the risk that they will fall over during the Winter and began to decompose in the pond add-ing problems to your Spring startup. Oh, what to do, what to do. That’s what I mean about planning now. Along with netting the pond, think about your fish food. They need a good cold weather food as water temps began to drop, right now they’re high but soon the cooler nights and days will began to lower the temp. Cold weath-er bacteria is also available to help keep your bacteria colony growing during the colder weather. That’s an important consideration to keep from having such a steep climb in the Spring. Your plants are still dormant, the fish are waking up and becoming active but unless you’ve been feeding the right kind of bacteria, your colony is way behind the power curve and unable to begin the nitrification process. That’s why you have algae early.

Always be humble and kind

~~~Mike

Military (Active or Retired) and Water Garden Club members

receive a 10% discount

(If you remember to tell us up front! Not after you’ve already paid.)

Valid for Pond Pro Shop purchases only

May be time to begin to add MuckOff
If you’ve allowed muck to build up in the bottom of your pond, now would be a good time to add MuckOff pellets to reduce the muck through biological action. MuckOff tab-lets are a blend of natural bacteria and enzymes that help create and maintain clear pond water by removing excess nutrients and reducing sediment.

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Please note: No more Winter hours!!!!
We will remain open
Tuesday thru Friday 9:00am-6:00pm
and Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm.
Closed Sunday, Monday.
Phone 405-273-8363.

One of the reasons for choosing to celebrate this on the first Monday in September, and not on May 1, which is common in the rest of the world, was to add a holiday in the long gap be-tween Independence Day and Thanksgiving.