Easy ways to create a frog-friendly pond
Attracting frogs to your backyard pond will help to control insects in your yard.
Frogs can eat up to 100 insects a day, so they’re excellent natural pest killers.
Having frogs in your pond is also a great learning experience for kids as they get to watch the tiny tadpoles turn into adult frogs.
Here are 10 ways to attract frogs to your garden pond.
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Attracting frogs to your pond
Frogs breathe and hydrate themselves through their skin, so their skin needs to stay moist. [1]
Frogs need a constant source of water, so make sure that your pond doesn’t dry out, especially during the hot summer months.
When topping up the pond, allow the water to sit in a bucket for a day or two to allow the chlorine to off-gas.
Pond accessibility
The pond will also need to be accessible for frogs, with a shallow entry so that the frogs can easily get in and out of the pond.
You can make a beach area from gravel or small pebbles on one side of the pond or place a few large rocks and logs in the water for the frogs to climb in and out of the water.
Avoid pond fish
Fish will eat frog eggs and tadpoles, so if you want to create a frog pond, you won’t be able to have fish in the same pond.
Avoid aeration
Frogs like calm, still water, so avoid using a fountain, bubbler or waterfall in your pond.
Add some pond plants
Plants provide places for frogs to hide from predators and attract insects for frogs to eat.
Plant some ornamental grasses around the edge of the pond and a few floating and marginal plants like water lilies
It’s also a good idea to plant lots of flowering plants around the pond area to attract insects for the frogs to feed on.
Ideally you’d have at least a few plants in bloom from spring through until fall.
Take care when mowing the lawn around the pond, because you may suck up a frog hiding in the grass.
Don’t clean the pond too often
Frog ponds aren’t meant to be sparkling clean with crystal blue water.
Some organic matter like decomposing leaves and algae in the pond will provide food for tadpoles.
Provide shelter
Frogs love damp, cool, shady spots where they can avoid the hot sun and hide from predators during the day.
Place a few hollow logs and old pots on their side around the pond for the frogs to take shelter.
You can also make a frog hide-out by propping up a large flat rock with a few smaller rocks.
Garden lights
Solar lights placed around the yard are great for attracting insects that frogs will eat.
I really like these solar lights
Garden organically
Try to avoid using algaecides, pesticides and other chemicals in your pond and around your yard because they can easily kill frogs.
When you have a few frogs living in your pond you’ll naturally have less insects and bugs attacking your plants.
Instead of using synthetic fertilizers, use a natural fertilizer like blood and bone or start a compost heap to create nutrient rich organic matter to dig into your garden beds.
Keep pets away from the pond
Most cats and dogs will hunt and kill frogs, so it’s best to keep them inside, especially at night when frogs are most active.
If you notice your pet drooling excessively or foaming at the mouth, they may have eaten or licked the skin of a poisonous frog and you’ll need to get them to a vet quickly. [2]
Prevent your pond water freezing
Many frogs hibernate at the bottom of the pond during winter so if you live in an area with very cold winter temperatures, you’ll need to make sure that the pond water doesn’t freeze solid during winter.
You can use a pond de-icer
So there are 10 ways to attract frogs to your garden pond.
By following these tips you’ll be able to create a welcoming natural habitat for frogs.
It may take awhile for the native frogs in your area to find your pond and make a home there so you’ll need to be patient.
In many areas it’s illegal to catch frogs, so don’t catch frogs from other areas and bring them back to your pond.
Check the local rules for your area. You may be allowed to catch a few tadpoles to introduce to your pond or purchase a frog from a pet store.
Once you have a frog-friendly pond you’ll notice less annoying insects in your yard and you’ll be able to enjoy the beautiful frog songs.
RELATED ARTICLES
- How To Keep Cats Away From Your Pond
- How To Keep Mosquitoes Away From Your Pond
- Winter Pond Maintenance
- How To Overwinter Pond Plants
- How To Add Tadpoles To Your Pond
Do you have frogs in your pond? Let me know in the comments below.
Are you on Pinterest? I have boards dedicated to Backyard Ponds and Water Gardens that you may find helpful.
