I was out doing a bit of pre-spring faffing around today, and was surprised
to find that some frogs are alive and kicking in a couple of washing-up
bowls I placed outside under the shelter of bushes, last Spring. I may have
woken them up from their winter hibernation. Frankly, I was amazed that
anything was still alive and kicking in one of the bowls, because the water
was opaque!

I want to do everything I can to harbour frogs in my garden, because they
eat slugs, (or so I'm told) - and slugs are the No.1 menace around here!

Can anyone share any tips on making life as comfortable as possible for
these croaking allies?

Al

On 17 Feb 2012 19:01:06 GMT, "AL_n" wrote:

I was out doing a bit of pre-spring faffing around today, and was surprised
to find that some frogs are alive and kicking in a couple of washing-up
bowls I placed outside under the shelter of bushes, last Spring. I may have
woken them up from their winter hibernation. Frankly, I was amazed that
anything was still alive and kicking in one of the bowls, because the water
was opaque!

I want to do everything I can to harbour frogs in my garden, because they
eat slugs, (or so I'm told) - and slugs are the No.1 menace around here!

Can anyone share any tips on making life as comfortable as possible for
these croaking allies?

Al

If you've got frogs romping in bowls at this time of year, you've got
frogs that are doing what comes naturally. Them frogs will spawn. The
spawn will develop into tadpoles and them tadpoles stand a chance of
developing into frogs. But not in bowls!

It's an often forgotten fact that frogs tend to return to their
birthing pool/pond/washing up bowl to mate the following year.

So you've now done it. You need to dig a pond. Quickly. Transfer the
spawn from your washing bowls into the pond and sit back and wait like
an expectant father.

I dug a pond 20 years ago. The frogs found it a year later. Things
grew from there. I've counted over 20 at it today(and a lot more under
water waiting their turn) with 3 lots of spawn so far (and I can still
see a few of last year's tadpoles swimming around - they're late
developers). Early days yet.

So get digging. Not a moment to lose. Unless, of course, you don't
have paternal instincts! :-)

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay.
A raisin is just a grape with sunburn.

On 17/02/2012 19:43, Jake wrote:
On 17 Feb 2012 19:01:06 GMT, wrote:

I was out doing a bit of pre-spring faffing around today, and was surprised
to find that some frogs are alive and kicking in a couple of washing-up
bowls I placed outside under the shelter of bushes, last Spring. I may have
woken them up from their winter hibernation. Frankly, I was amazed that
anything was still alive and kicking in one of the bowls, because the water
was opaque!

I want to do everything I can to harbour frogs in my garden, because they
eat slugs, (or so I'm told) - and slugs are the No.1 menace around here!

Can anyone share any tips on making life as comfortable as possible for
these croaking allies?

Al

If you've got frogs romping in bowls at this time of year, you've got
frogs that are doing what comes naturally. Them frogs will spawn. The
spawn will develop into tadpoles and them tadpoles stand a chance of
developing into frogs. But not in bowls!

It's an often forgotten fact that frogs tend to return to their
birthing pool/pond/washing up bowl to mate the following year.

So you've now done it. You need to dig a pond. Quickly. Transfer the
spawn from your washing bowls into the pond and sit back and wait like
an expectant father.

I dug a pond 20 years ago. The frogs found it a year later. Things
grew from there. I've counted over 20 at it today(and a lot more under
water waiting their turn) with 3 lots of spawn so far (and I can still
see a few of last year's tadpoles swimming around - they're late
developers). Early days yet.

So get digging. Not a moment to lose. Unless, of course, you don't
have paternal instincts! :-)

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay.
A raisin is just a grape with sunburn.



Jake is spot-on, as usual.

Your pond should provide some plant cover and hiding places so the frogs
feel safe. Since yours will be primarily a wildlife pond to nurture
frogs, it is important that you don't add fish. Fish think frogspawn
and tadpoles are yummy :~(.

There should be plant cover close to the pond so the frogs can leave the
water in safety (they only meet and mate in water).

You should avoid the use of chemicals, but especially slug/snail
poisons, otherwise your frogs will die. You will need to be very
careful mowing the lawn after the young frogs have left the pond. Many
frogs are killed by mower blades in summer.

Get a book on water gardening, which will cover ponds, bog gardens and
plants for both. Once you're really involved, you will probably be glad
of an id guide for pondlife fauna so that you can identify friend from foe.

As Jake says, you need to start digging. In the meantime, a makeshift
mini-pond in a large planter or tank will make your frogs-to-be more
comfortable.

Good luck.


--
Spider
from high ground in SE London
gardening on clay

On Fri, 17 Feb 2012 20:28:59 +0000, Spider wrote:

On 17/02/2012 19:43, Jake wrote:
On 17 Feb 2012 19:01:06 GMT, wrote:

I was out doing a bit of pre-spring faffing around today, and was surprised
to find that some frogs are alive and kicking in a couple of washing-up
bowls I placed outside under the shelter of bushes, last Spring. I may have
woken them up from their winter hibernation. Frankly, I was amazed that
anything was still alive and kicking in one of the bowls, because the water
was opaque!

I want to do everything I can to harbour frogs in my garden, because they
eat slugs, (or so I'm told) - and slugs are the No.1 menace around here!

Can anyone share any tips on making life as comfortable as possible for
these croaking allies?

Al

If you've got frogs romping in bowls at this time of year, you've got
frogs that are doing what comes naturally. Them frogs will spawn. The
spawn will develop into tadpoles and them tadpoles stand a chance of
developing into frogs. But not in bowls!

It's an often forgotten fact that frogs tend to return to their
birthing pool/pond/washing up bowl to mate the following year.

So you've now done it. You need to dig a pond. Quickly. Transfer the
spawn from your washing bowls into the pond and sit back and wait like
an expectant father.

I dug a pond 20 years ago. The frogs found it a year later. Things
grew from there. I've counted over 20 at it today(and a lot more under
water waiting their turn) with 3 lots of spawn so far (and I can still
see a few of last year's tadpoles swimming around - they're late
developers). Early days yet.

So get digging. Not a moment to lose. Unless, of course, you don't
have paternal instincts! :-)

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay.
A raisin is just a grape with sunburn.



Jake is spot-on, as usual.

Your pond should provide some plant cover and hiding places so the frogs
feel safe. Since yours will be primarily a wildlife pond to nurture
frogs, it is important that you don't add fish. Fish think frogspawn
and tadpoles are yummy :~(.

There should be plant cover close to the pond so the frogs can leave the
water in safety (they only meet and mate in water).

You should avoid the use of chemicals, but especially slug/snail
poisons, otherwise your frogs will die. You will need to be very
careful mowing the lawn after the young frogs have left the pond. Many
frogs are killed by mower blades in summer.

Get a book on water gardening, which will cover ponds, bog gardens and
plants for both. Once you're really involved, you will probably be glad
of an id guide for pondlife fauna so that you can identify friend from foe.

As Jake says, you need to start digging. In the meantime, a makeshift
mini-pond in a large planter or tank will make your frogs-to-be more
comfortable.

Good luck.

I may have fans but I am not infallible. But thanks, Spider.

One thing that is important - the "birthing pool" is where the spawn
hatches and it's to that that the mummies and daddies of tomorrow will
return. It's important that your new pond is in situ (and the spawn in
it) before the babies emerge. Don't ask me to explain why - that's one
of nature's mysteries but all the more wonderous for that.

You may think that digging a hole in your lawn or whatever is an
invasion of your space. But if you're like me, in a few years' time
you'll be watching that hole like a hawk and relishing the spring orgy
followed by the spawn and hatching. And those little critters will
become your own children. Daft, I know, but wait and see - you'll find
I'm right!

Enjoy

Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay.
A raisin is just a grape with sunburn.

We've a 3000 gallon koi pool and a small frog/lily pond.

But we've had frogs in our garden from before we had either.

In my younger and less affluent days I used to service my own car.
I kept a 1ltr ice cream tub, which I used to catch the engine oil when I drained it. After disposing of the oil, I put the mucky container with still some oil in the bottom behind the garage. Once, a few months later I noticed two frogs in about two inches of rain water in the tub and "at it."
They have more comfortable accommodation now, the three foot pond they use can contain up to a dozen pairs each year. The spawn sometimes covers the whole of the surface, but each batch looks slightly different to the next.
I've read somewhere that on average, only two frogs reach maturity from any spawning.

If you've a pond, make sure the baby frogs have some way of getting out when it's time for them to leave by placing some rocks they can use to assist their exit.
Tadpoles like fish food. I feed them koi pellets which they nibble at and chase round the pond.

I've already cleaned out our little pond as it'll be soon be time for them to pair up.
We never see any slugs in our garden.

As I was walking in the country I heard a sobbing coming form the side
of the road, when I looked there was a young frog crying its heart
out, so I picked it up.
"Please kind Sir" it said "I'm cold and tired, please take me home
with you".
So I took pity on it and took it home.
Once home I got a small box and placed it near the fire, only to have
the frog say it was hungry, so I fed it.
Being tired I went to bed, only to hear the frog crying that it was
lonely, and asking if it could come into my bed, so taking pity on it
I took it to my bed and placed in on the pillow next to me.
When I woke in the morning, there was this young, fair-haired boy in
bed next to me.
And that your Honour is the case for the defence.

That’s the last time I try to make a frog happy.

Jake Nospam@invalid wrote in
:



So get digging. Not a moment to lose.

Thanks. So can anyone offer any tips on creating a low-cost, but effective
pond? Can it be done by lining a hole with black polythene, for example?

Al

On 18 Feb 2012 21:48:02 GMT, "AL_n" wrote:

Jake Nospam@invalid wrote in
:



So get digging. Not a moment to lose.

Thanks. So can anyone offer any tips on creating a low-cost, but effective
pond? Can it be done by lining a hole with black polythene, for example?

Al

Have a butchers at:

http://www.countrysideinfo.co.uk/pond_maker/index.htm

http://www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/ht...pond_pages.htm

There are a lot more sites but these two should get you going. I'd go
for a flexible liner rather than premade thing. Don't use polythene -
it won't last. Go for Butyl which will outlast all of us if done
right.

You may find it better to dig the hole before you get the liner. It's
easy to get carried away with size/shape/depth which dictates the size
of liner!

Bradshaws are one source of a wide range of liner options (and
underlay which protects the liner). They're at:

http://www.bradshawsdirect.co.uk


Cheers, Jake
=======================================
Urgling happily from the dryer end of Swansea Bay.
A raisin is just a grape with sunburn.

In article ,
says...

Jake Nospam@invalid wrote in
:



So get digging. Not a moment to lose.

Thanks. So can anyone offer any tips on creating a low-cost, but effective
pond? Can it be done by lining a hole with black polythene, for example?

IMO Polythene is too vulnerable to puncture and light degradation.
But you can (we did) make an excellent longlasting pond with a proper
pondliner material. Old carpet makes a good underlay.

Or you could bury some old rubber dustbins or barrels, to make small
ponds; still a lot of fun.

Janet

A local nature reserve has one made from sinking an old corner bath. There's a sort of causeway of pieces of branch tied together coming up one side to let the young frogs out easily.

It depends what you want.

I don't think there is a "cheap way" of making any pond that's going to last.
It's a lot of effort to build and ideally, I'd want one that requires little maintenance.

I'm a koi keeper with a 3000 gallon pool, but we also have a small "frog pond" next to it.

I'd recommend the following method of construction, for durability.

Make sure there are no tree roots anywhere near you intend to put your pond.
Use a bit of hosepipe to form the shape of your pond and then look at it from all angles to decide you've got it right, make any necessary adjustments.

Dig a three or four inch deep and six inch wide trench for a concrete collar, for your pond, use bits of wood for the shuttering, check the collar is perfectly level then fill with concrete.
Let it go off for a few days and then dig it out the pond.
With a collar you'll make less mess and won't tread the sides down while you dig it out. This way you could build one in the middle of your lawn if you so chose.
Make sure you include a short length of overflow polypipe in the collar to act as just that.

Line it with sand and then put some insulation down, carpet underlay is ideal.

Decide on some coping stones, bits of York stone or similar is ideal.
Use a good quality liner and lay it across the pool, put a few of the coping stones on the liner on top of the collar.

Start to fill the pool slowly, the weight of the water will slowly pull the liner down and stop wrinkles forming, the stones keeping the liner relatively taut, you'll have to watch the coping stones don't get dragged into the pool.
When it's full, trim off the surplus liner at a point half way across the collar.

Cement in the coping stones.

Let it go off and when dry, drain the pool to clear any cement debris from the pool, it doesn't do frogs any good.

There you have it. The pool is level and you can stand on the edge with no danger of the sides falling in.

This is the one as it was when I built 25 years ago.

http://img600.imageshack.us/img600/6499/10014s.jpg

I have had to replace the liner which got punctured about ten years ago, but that was easy enough, I just chiseled off each of the coping stones with one tap of a bolster chisel, removed the old liner and put in a new one and re-cemented the coping stones, a "non messy repair."

You will need to "trickle change" your pool from time to time with fresh water, but if you've arranged for the overflow to run to a soak-away or garden border, you can do this overnight without any bother.

Here it is last year, I've since moved the lamp, it's a bit overshadowed now by that acer palmatum, which is about eight feet wide now, but the frogs don't mind.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1571/p1030210u.jpg

Why?
And how often?

It's often difficult to get a natural balance in a small pond, the effect of sunlight will turn it green and may even make it go "soupy" so you won't see your tadpoles.

http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9927/pic002a.jpg

An occasional trickle change will resolve this.

But it has to be just that, nature doesn't like rapid changes in conditions.

I do ours a couple of times in the summer. I also clear out all the dead vegetation before spring (it will seem that every leaf that falls in the garden will likely end up in your pond) as it's likely to be acidic.
Frogs can absorb toxins through their skin.

In article ,
says...

kay;951274 Wrote:
Why?
And how often?

It's often difficult to get a natural balance in a small pond, the
effect of sunlight will turn it green and may even make it go "soupy" so
you won't see your tadpoles.

[image: http://img534.imageshack.us/img534/9927/pic002a.jpg]

An occasional trickle change will resolve this.

But it has to be just that, nature doesn't like rapid changes in
conditions.

I do ours a couple of times in the summer. I also clear out all the dead
vegetation before spring (it will seem that every leaf that falls in the
garden will likely end up in your pond) as it's likely to be acidic.
Frogs can absorb toxins through their skin.

I put a light net over the pond for a month or so in Autumn to keep
falling leaves out.

Janet

Mine has a net and a swimming pool cover and a 300watt heater. The filters are also insulated, I run the filters all year and an 1000 ltr ph air pump.
It's currently maintaining 8C.

But it's surprising how many leaves can work their way into the pool.

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