Makeshift pond?

[chris]

I've got a circular plastic tub, probably about a foot and a half deep, by the same width diameter that I've found on my plot.

I've thought about digging it into the ground, and filling it up with water - or letting the rain do the job..

Would I need anything else, bar a platform or similar for frogs, etc to be able to get in and out of the "pond" ? Is it even worth doing this with such a small area? I don't want to spend money on it - I'd be doing it to attract frogs/give them a home if need be. I've found an old pond grate too - similar size, so not sure if they were used for a pond before.

Would I need to add ariating plants in there?

Thanks.

[Aberdeenplotter]

yes you will need aerating plants or an air pump of some sort(you can get solar powered ones these days) as otherwise the water will quickly become stagnant. Also a yes to something to allow frogs and beasties to get out of the tup but a branch or a plank or something simple is all that should be needed for that.

[chris]

Thanks, AP.

[Two_Sheds]

A wildlife pond can be really small. Do "plant" it in the shade though, as the sunlight makes it go green very quickly

A frog pond needs to be a bit more specialised: at least a metre deep so they can hibernate without freezing solid, and with sloped, graduated sides so the little froglings can climb out (I found a frog skeleton last week: it had jumped inside a Morrisons bucket and couldn't get out again. Very upsetting)

[chris]

Perhaps I'll empty it and cover it over winter then, unless they (frogs) know how deep they need to be in?

[Two_Sheds]

No, they have no idea, that's why so many of them freeze to death every winter

[Snadger]

I've sunk an old upvc bath into my allotment plot for a pond.

I made a shallow ramp and plateau at the opposite end to the plughole with garden soil then covered the whole lot with black weed supressant woven stuff.
Filled with water it has a deep end and a shallow end. I've had it for three years now and I've got loads of frogs and newts in it.
I was given some water hyacinth when a friend cleaned his pond out and it has established well, requiring thinning out a couple of times a year.

I have mine in full sun but only need to deal with the blanket weed a couple of times a year.

btw.........whats a slug? I haven't seen one since I got the pond and its occupants!

[endymion]

Perhaps I'll empty it and cover it over winter then, unless they (frogs) know how deep they need to be in?

If you do that you'll also empty out all the caddis, damselfly and dragonfly larvae as well as any other water creatures that have made their homes in it.

Nature is harsh - frogs and toads die in winter, if they try to hibernate in water then they drown when it freezes over. Maybe you could put a little pile of bricks or a lumps of rock nearby, then they might try to hibernate in the right place.

That size shouldn't need a pump, as long as you put plenty of plants in it and make sure it gets sunlight it'll go green to begin with and then 'balance' itself. If you decide to go ahead and would like some bits of native pond plants then please let me know and I'll send you some from our pond. Some of the stuff you get from water garden centres is non-native, and are listed as nuisance plants because they're horribly invasive and are blocking ponds and waterways. (a bit of a 'hobbyhorse' subject for me I'm afraid)

If you drape a bit of plastic netting over the edge it'll act as a ladder for anything that might fall in.

Have a look here and here for some 'barrel pond' ideas - about the same size as your container.

[chris]

Thank you, endymion - I'll give you a shout once I get it sorted Won't be for a couple of weeks, as I've more clearing to do first.. I've since found where the natural spring is on my plot, so the water will, at least be "natural"

[endymion]

I've since found where the natural spring is on my plot, so the water will, at least be "natural"

Lucky you.

Maybe you could arrange your container so it gets a run-through from the spring, if it's there all year. It's one way of keeping the water crystal clear.

[Potstubsdustbins]

SWMBO recently purchased a solar powered air pump worked for about three weeks it is now on its way back to the vendor.

My frog pond is only about 18" deep so have established a hibernating spot close by made of old clay drains and lots of dead foliage. Though I lose a few frogs every year i still have a good healthy population.

Colin

[endymion]

SWMBO recently purchased a solar powered air pump worked for about three weeks it is now on its way back to the vendor.

Hmm, glad I didn't get round to buying one.

[Two_Sheds]

SWMBO recently purchased a solar powered air pump worked for about three weeks it is now on its way back to the vendor.

I used to buy all those solar gadgets: solar radios couldn't get a signal, solar phone chargers needed to be plugged in to the mains to get any kind of a charge ... Himself's on about solar roof panels now