Thinking of building a pond...

[Tangerine]

I'm thinking of building a pond to attract amphibians and dragonflies but as far as I know there is no frogs in my area so would the frogs manage to get to my (urban but close to farmland and woodland) pond? Or would I need to find somewhere to buy frogspawn/tadpoles (Froglife advises against this though...)

[Sweepster]

Build it... and they will come

Seriously, there will be some frogs and suchlike critters in the area, and they will find your pond. If you have a neighbour with a pond, ask if you can have a bucketful of water from it to add to yours - this'll hasten the process of getting all the micro-organisms etc going in your new pond and help wildlife thrive.

Good luck! I really enjoyed making our pond a couple of years ago.

[seasprout]

Frogs

You probably already have frogs and toads in your garden but never see them, they only go into ponds to mate and lay, then they scarper and live out he rest of the year in damp places such as long grass.

As Sweepster has said just build it and they will find it, I know when it rains in my garden frogs just appear from everywhere and bounce about on the lawn.!

[Dottie]

I dug a small pond for my lottie quite soon after getting the plot, I'll have had it for 2 years come the end of July. Didn't see any activity in the pond last year, but I got hold of some frog spawn earlier this year and yesterday I saw 2 little frogs in the pond. It was really exciting to finally see them, as usually I hear them dive when they hear my footsteps or see my shadow. I said hello and left them to it, so hopefully now they won't feel the need to hide. Or maybe it's just that they are getting bigger and braver?

I have lots of logs, leaf mulch and pine cones around the pond and a log actually sticking in the pond, so that they can use it like a step and maybe a diving board. Waterlillies and iris's in the pond, bench and wooden arch which has a grape growing up it, so all very nice for me and the frogs.

Hopefully the frogs will hang around and eat a few slugs for me, as there is no such thing as a free lunch.

[dogsbody]

DO IT DO IT DIG IT and make it as BIG as you can manage (within reason)

I have a 3m x 4m x 1m deep in my back garden and in the first year I got frog spawn, newts and damsel flies.

It is so rewarding but you do need to put a little effort in now and again.

I currently have a frog in one of my greenhouses on slug patrol

[dinger]

Go for it. We recently moved house and there was a pond here complete with tadpoles, which are now getting to be mini frogs. It has been fascinating watching them change.I can't go by without peering in!.

[bobleponge]

I'm lucky in that I have a huuuuuuuge pond. Its my fave part of my garden and I will sit for hours just "being at one with nature." I have seen frogs, newts, snakes, various waterfowl and countless insects here,as well as a shoal of carp, but there isnt actually any other water within a mile. Its a natural pond, clay and slate lined I would guess judging by my soil, and was dug out by one of the previous owners, and nothing was put in by him apparently.
Build it, and they will come.

[teamladd]

Its like seasprout said you probably have them already in your garden. We don't have a pond but I lifted up a tub the other day and underneath it was a frog! I was shocked to see it, but its nice to know they are there.

[greengardendesign]

I agree, the frogs are there and will find you. I made a pond a few years ago and within minutes of filling it, a pondskater arrived out of thin air! Pay special attention to getting the edges level though. It's really obvious if one side is higher than the other, and unfortunately you cannot get water to slope!
Linda
Green - garden design, surrey

[BilboWaggins]

Build it... and they will come

Sweepster and I obviously watch the same movies .

DO IT DO IT DIG IT and make it as BIG as you can manage (within reason)

Ponds are like greenhouses - never ever big enough so make yours as large as you possibly can (although don't do what I did a few years back - insisted on digging out our pond by hand and gave myself a stress fracture of the wrist - ouch )

For our first pond I asked on Freecycle if anyone had a pond that I could have a bucket of water/frogspawn from and was able to start off that way.

Please leave a wild area next to the pond, preferably with some large logs to provide safe and shady places for frogs and toads to live. Also do not make the sides steep (a shallow beach-type edge is perfect) so that hedgehogs can climb out.

If you want tadpoles to survive, and dragonfly larvae to hatch then do not put any fish in the pond (larvae and tadpoles = all-you-can-eat-buffet for fish ).

[bobleponge]

Field of dreams Bilbo??

Hmm I have fish in my pond, probably around 20 or so carp, and yet also have dragonfly and frogs etc. I think nature has a way of balancing these things perhaps?

[seasprout]

a pondskater arrived out of thin air! Green - garden design, surrey

Almost.....

Thats cos they can fly.!

[blackkitty]

If your pond is healthy you can have frogs, newts, toads and fish all in the same pond.

[BilboWaggins]

Field of dreams Bilbo??

Husband's fave film of all time. Reminds him of his Dad. I ensure the Kleenex are to hand, and quietly leave the room