Pond surrounds

[gingerlover]

Hi, as some of you may be aware I have a newish plot and have two old baths sunk into the ground for ponds. Which I inherited.

Both were completely overgrown with the ponds(?) being full of old grass and other rubbish. I am thinking of cleaning them out, going to the local canal for some snails and a few water plants. But as there are a lot and I do mean lot of frogs would this be the wrong time of year to clear it out as I believe they hibernate in the silt at the bottom.

Also could anyone advise me on what to plant around the ponds,lol ( baths ) to privde cover and shelter for said horde of frogs. Since realising there were so many have now stopped using even slug pellets and seem to be on the organic bit.

[gingerlover]

The pond surrounds are now completely open as I removed all the grass and other weeds not realising that there were so many frogs

[tamsin]

Spring is the usual clean up time. Unless they smell I wouldn't worry too much tho, they'll be a whole eco system at work. It's fish/ducks etc. that make things messy.

You can plant anything, if they are sunk baths then I wouldn't have thought the surrounds were boggy so no specialist plants required.

Do make sure it's possible for anything falling in to climb out, lots of hedgehogs die falling in that sort of pool because they can't pull themselves out. They need a slope.

I wouldn't pull stuff out of the canal, you don't know what you'll transplant with it. Don't buy originators either as they will over run it. A small lilly would be good to provide shade in summer.

Toads hibernate out of water so a log to crawl under is handy too

[rustylady]

Not a good idea to import anything from the canal. Sounds as if your "ponds" are a wildlife haven already. Just let the grass grow back round the edges.

[Two_Sheds]

Frogs don't hibernate in September ... get it done before the winter sets in though

[Two_Sheds]

Also could anyone advise me on what to plant around the ponds,lol ( baths ) to privde cover and shelter for said horde of frogs.

Phalaris is excellent, and beautiful, but it does spread like couch grass. You might want to plant it in a pot, sunk in the soil.

I can post you some cuttings for SAE (PM me)

[gingerlover]

Hi Two Sheds, would love to PM you,lol, unfortunately I don't know how to do that.

What type of envelope would I need to send you?

God I hate, and now and again love pc's.

[Polly Fouracre]

Please, also think of hedgehogs. Should they stray into a pond they need a way out. Bath edges would be too slippery.

[Dynamo]

Please, also think of hedgehogs. Should they stray into a pond they need a way out. Bath edges would be too slippery.

If you got fairly long grass or other plants to grow over the edge of the bath and into the water you could get it to cover the slippery edges. You should also lay a plank or a thick log into the pond so they can use that to climb out.

Another reason to have plants growing into the pond is because the majority of life in the pond like tadpoles etc will congregate beneath the submerged foliage.

[Two_Sheds]

Hi Two Sheds, would love to PM you,lol, unfortunately I don't know how to do that..

You just click on a person's name, then click on Send a Private Message.