Making a new wildlife pond

[Jungle Jane]

Looks lovely & peaceful,good to see you again burnie

[burnie]

Thanks JJ last summer when recuperating from surgery I made quite a few videos in the garden as I couldn't get out much.

[Nicos]

Do share Burnie!…I envy your wildlife pond…really wish we could have one here!

[Snoop Puss]

Lovely pond, Burnie.

[Containergardener]

Not seeing any wildlife in my pond this year.
I usually have lots of newts , even the odd frog has appeared.
Nothing and I'm not sure why.
I cleaned it out a bit early in the year as a couple of plants in their pond pots had tipped and spilled so got alot of that out.
any ideas how I can it come back to life?

[Plot70]

My wildlife pond has never had tadpoles of any kind. Just lots of bighting water beetles.
If I need any therapy I sit there catching them for the chickens.

[Martin H]

I dug a new pond this winter. In spring I went out to the local wild places looking for frogspawn but I didn't find any. And the frogs haven't found my pond either. Maybe next year.

[mothhawk]

Not seeing any wildlife in my pond this year.
I usually have lots of newts , even the odd frog has appeared.
Nothing and I'm not sure why.
I cleaned it out a bit early in the year as a couple of plants in their pond pots had tipped and spilled so got alot of that out.
any ideas how I can it come back to life?

Maybe you've got a grass snake lurking around. Newts and frogs are a favourite prey.

[Containergardener]

I hope not.
Always found newts under stones and behind things but none so far this yr.

[Containergardener]

I have mosquito larvae in my small pond. What's the best way to discourage them?
I dont want fish , its only small.
Some of my pond plants died so perhaps I should get some new ones, anything they wouldn't like? Also would I be OK getting some this time of year.

[Peanut]

I have mosquito larvae in my small pond. What's the best way to discourage them?
I dont want fish , its only small.

I don't have a pond, but my large water dish thing that I use as a bird bath was getting full of mozzie larvae. As they prefer still water I got a little solar fountain to float on it and that seemed to deter them. Not sure if that would work in a proper pond...

[Containergardener]

On peering into pond it has now clouded but I also noticed a newt scurrying away and a frog.

[Andraste]

I second Peanut's tip - mozzies like to lay & grow in still water so a fountain or something that will disturb the water frequently should deter them.x

If your pond's not to close to the house or a seating area I wouldn't worry too much - birds think mozzies are tasty

[Containergardener]

It is near the house/sitting area but we get midges anyway. We do also get alot of swallows , bats and have started to see dragonflies so perhaps I will leave them be.

[Andraste]

I'm prepared to be corrected by someone more knowledgeable but I don't think dragonflies would be bothered by water movement like mozzies - they just want a shallow area/plants to attract them.

I'm sure the swallows & bats appreciate your mozzie donations though so can appreciate your dilemma. Maybe you could put a small container for undisturbed water somewhere further from the house for the mozzies so you don't feel guilty?