Frog Question

[Lumpy]

We have acquired a frog in our tiny pond, we put itin there after finding it hiding in a drain.

It's a pretty little thing all brown and yellow stripes but.....

What can we provide for it so it has some shelter for winter?

[craftymarie]

I got a selection of big ceramic pots and turned them upside down over some bricks which provides areas where our frogs can rest and hide from predators and take cover. They do use them, also added in some bits of piping they can crawl in and out of. There is a small stack of bricks we've had for ages and I often find them squeezed between gaps in there. Anything like that should be good.

[Lumpy]

Thank you for that CM - OH is now building a frogitat out of an old planter, half buried in the soil with half bricks, soggy logs etc inside it.

I really hope my frog finds a friend for next year so we can have baby frogs that will help with the slugs. We do have a wondering hedgehog plus a large hoarde of sparrows that live in the hedge but the frogs would be an added bonus.

[rosiepumpkin]

Keep an eye out when you're digging your spuds too.

I killed one of our frogs when digging up mine 2 weeks ago. Fatal brain injury. Very sad.

[Lumpy]

I'll remember that when digging about - thankfully our spuds are grown in buckets.

But for your poor froggie

[mothhawk]

If your pond has a nice muddy bottom, frogs will bury themselves in that to hibernate. A good reason not to let the pond freeze solid over winter.

Or if you have a compost heap that's cool and damp, or a pile of leaf mould, they may use that.

[bramble]

Sorry but frogs are my worst nightmare. I remember a very long time ago a frog jumped up on my hand and I never got over the fright. I would be horrified if I found one in my garden.

[SusieG]

I love frogs! Found a very small (frightened?) frog in one of my tomato grow bags inside the GH. Thought it best to re-house him as he'd probably dry out in there! He let me pick him up - I popped him into the bushes by my 'acquired' pond which is not particularly pleasant, but thought more suitable than the GH!!

[Lumpy]

Oh Bramble you have ranidaphobia - bet you always wanted that didn't you?

[clod]

I guess frogs just need some cool cover, and will find whatever's around if your plot's not too tidy! They often make me jump because I accidentally make them jump when I'm picking strawberries

[alldigging]

I saw one yesterday on my plot.

[Two_Sheds]

female frogs tend to hibernate in leaf litter (leafmould) and the males at the bottom of ponds. I just picked a frog out of my water butt, only for him to jump right back in again

[Alison]

I've got loads of frogs and toads on my plot (great for keeping down the slugs ) and I just leave them be, never move them as I work on the principal that they know best where they want to be. Often see them in the tunnel and basically anywhere round the plot. We do have a decent pond with sufficient depth that it shouldn't freeze full but have had a few freeze up when they've been too close to the surface if the weather has been really cold. It's a shame but part of the life cycle unfortunately.