Build it and they will come! Having an area of long grass and a log pile next to the pond will help and making sure it’s well vegetated is always a good idea, but frogs will often spawn in any old puddle or container if they have to. Not having any probably just means they aren’t around yet. One study a few years back seemed to suggest that frogs were sensitive to the smell of duckweed and this could be an attractant, but you may wish to think twice about introducing it as it can be quite invasive once established and will cover the surface with a green mass....but there’s no doubt that frogs love it...it provides them with camoflage.
Hi, I'd suggest you lose the strip of grass behind and plant, guess what? Hostas, and other leafy plants so things have shelter near the pond when they come to drink etc.
HH says:- One study a few years back seemed to suggest that frogs were sensitive to the smell of duckweed and this could be an attractant, I did not know that but two years ago some duckweed appeared in my pond for the first time and this year the pond is hooching with spawn and tadpoles! Might be coincidence of course
Frogs and toads use the water mainly for mating and laying spawn, they spend most of their lives on dry land, hibernating under rocks etc. I have fish, newts and frogs in my very small pond but have found frogs residing in puddles of water which had collected on top of sheets of black plastic used for suppressing weeds so they are quite innovative about where they live.
Your pond looks fine, try just letting nature take its course and you will have wild life coming to it. If you keep changing things around or trying to help you may disturb or deter critters from moving in.
I'm pleased you have both frogs, newts, and fish in the same pond. Last year my fish ate all the tadpoles as they were growing, and a previous post said fish and wildlife don't mix.
This year, if I get more frogspawn, I will create a temporary "pondlet" near the main pond to see if the tadpoles can survive.
I would love some newts, but only ever had any when at my previous house I put some bulrushes in the pond and they appeared a month later. (Probably eggs in the roots?)
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I did not know that but two years ago some duckweed appeared in my pond for the first time and this year the pond is hooching with spawn and tadpoles! Might be coincidence of course
Frogs and toads use the water mainly for mating and laying spawn, they spend most of their lives on dry land, hibernating under rocks etc. I have fish, newts and frogs in my very small pond but have found frogs residing in puddles of water which had collected on top of sheets of black plastic used for suppressing weeds so they are quite innovative about where they live.
Your pond looks fine, try just letting nature take its course and you will have wild life coming to it. If you keep changing things around or trying to help you may disturb or deter critters from moving in.
Dear Goldenlily.
I'm pleased you have both frogs, newts, and fish in the same pond. Last year my fish ate all the tadpoles as they were growing, and a previous post said fish and wildlife don't mix.
This year, if I get more frogspawn, I will create a temporary "pondlet" near the main pond to see if the tadpoles can survive.
I would love some newts, but only ever had any when at my previous house I put some bulrushes in the pond and they appeared a month later. (Probably eggs in the roots?)