I assume that the pond is one made with a liner. If so once it is empty of wildlife you can rip it up and dispose of it. Or if you want a bog garden, leave it in place and puncture it with a garden fork all over. If it is a preformed pond, then it will have to be dug out . How big is the pond? If you are thinking of turning it in to a raised bed, does that mean it is above ground? If it is only a little pond, you could have a go at catching the tadpoles and relocating them somewhere else. Not PC of course but better than dumping them on the compost heap or in the bin. There may be fish in the pond. They will only come to light in the next month when they start to move around or if you try to empty the pond sooner. These will pose more of a problem in disposal. At lease the frogs will eventually leave of their own accord.
And while you are thinking this through, and if you have young children, a temporary fence round it needs to be erected. Or a grille depending on size.
'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
I haven't read the posts all I would say is keep the pond and just take measures to stop kiddies falling in, they grow up quickly and a pond is something for future enjoyment. I'd love to have a pond.
p.s Pepper I've just read back detest frogs why? They don't bite and you don't have to pick them up or eat them Frogs or slugs ?
Well, thanks up for your responses so far, I can see there are a lot of frog fans out there! Anyway, if I did still want to turn the pond into a raised bed, what should I do with the current wildlife in there?
Or just let them get on with life and drain it in late summer/autumn, inline with the advice that would be given by any wildlife proffessional. Anyone else think it odd that the op made the exact same post on page 1 as the last post made by them here?
if you want to kill frogs, tadpoles, the larvae of dragonflies, newts, and a wonderful haven for birds to drink, nest, bathe, and also for hedgehogs to visit, and you think a raised bed will be of more use to your children: that's your choice.
Sometimes the right decision isn't always the easiest one. Your choice clearly. Make it wisely.
I always refused to have a pond in my gardens until my children were around 11 yrs. old as a toddler can drown in an upturned dustbin lid of water and you cannot, with the best will in the world, watch small children every minute of every day.
You could always simply fill the pond with soil and at a later date excavate it out again if it is a preformed liner, not sure how a plastic liner would fare.
When I rebuilt my pond the frogs hung around in damp places waiting for their home to reappear. If it doesn't reappear they will find a new location.......they're not stupid. They spend most of the year away from water anyway. Please don't relocate them to another pond as that can spread disease between amphibians. Stop worrying about the frogs and get on with building your raised bed. Its your garden and if you don't want a pond, that is your business.
If you are really fretting about them, my neighbour finds that a large gravel tray full of water seems to attract frogs. Put in a shady spot with a couple of large stones to aid access and they will have a temporary home.
Posts
I assume that the pond is one made with a liner. If so once it is empty of wildlife you can rip it up and dispose of it. Or if you want a bog garden, leave it in place and puncture it with a garden fork all over. If it is a preformed pond, then it will have to be dug out . How big is the pond? If you are thinking of turning it in to a raised bed, does that mean it is above ground? If it is only a little pond, you could have a go at catching the tadpoles and relocating them somewhere else. Not PC of course but better than dumping them on the compost heap or in the bin. There may be fish in the pond. They will only come to light in the next month when they start to move around or if you try to empty the pond sooner. These will pose more of a problem in disposal. At lease the frogs will eventually leave of their own accord.
And while you are thinking this through, and if you have young children, a temporary fence round it needs to be erected. Or a grille depending on size.
I haven't read the posts all I would say is keep the pond and just take measures to stop kiddies falling in, they grow up quickly and a pond is something for future enjoyment. I'd love to have a pond.
p.s Pepper I've just read back detest frogs why? They don't bite and you don't have to pick them up or eat them
Frogs or slugs ?
I'm glad you're now " undecided" Pinkpepper. As my dear late Mother uses to say " act in haste; repent at leisure"
Well, thanks up for your responses so far, I can see there are a lot of frog fans out there! Anyway, if I did still want to turn the pond into a raised bed, what should I do with the current wildlife in there?
Murder it would seem to be the only way.
As I said previously............If the pond is small you could try and net the tadpoles and relocate. Same with the fish if any.
Or just let them get on with life and drain it in late summer/autumn, inline with the advice that would be given by any wildlife proffessional. Anyone else think it odd that the op made the exact same post on page 1 as the last post made by them here?
if you want to kill frogs, tadpoles, the larvae of dragonflies, newts, and a wonderful haven for birds to drink, nest, bathe, and also for hedgehogs to visit, and you think a raised bed will be of more use to your children: that's your choice.
Sometimes the right decision isn't always the easiest one. Your choice clearly. Make it wisely.
I always refused to have a pond in my gardens until my children were around 11 yrs. old as a toddler can drown in an upturned dustbin lid of water and you cannot, with the best will in the world, watch small children every minute of every day.
You could always simply fill the pond with soil and at a later date excavate it out again if it is a preformed liner, not sure how a plastic liner would fare.
If you are really fretting about them, my neighbour finds that a large gravel tray full of water seems to attract frogs. Put in a shady spot with a couple of large stones to aid access and they will have a temporary home.