Plants for next to my barrel pond

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Stevelphoto

That looks great Kayleigh! I have to say I am suprised a frog got in there - any idea how it did (do you have a ramp or something?).

They jump in from the lawn
the garden is on a slope, two levels they get out by climbing the ivy growing over the edge from the wall next to the barrel..
I keep finding tiny frogs on the patio

[msm]

Do you just use normal brick but give them a wash first? When washing do you just use water?

Tieng my baskets to the edge seems to have worked but the cotton wicks away water and I am scared the ends of the ropes is worrying the birds!

I have a very shallow area that have plants which can cope with just very wet soil. This is my get-out-area, but more for insects and birds unless hedgehogs have learnt to fly. I then have a slightly deeper area (about 7.5 -10cm) under the water for more traditional marginals. However, I am worried my cotton will snap hence looking for another method!

Those ponds look really nice. I really hope the plants in mine dont die and start to look that nice!

Matt

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by msm

Do you just use normal brick but give them a wash first? When washing do you just use water?

Tieng my baskets to the edge seems to have worked but the cotton wicks away water and I am scared the ends of the ropes is worrying the birds!

I have a very shallow area that have plants which can cope with just very wet soil. This is my get-out-area, but more for insects and birds unless hedgehogs have learnt to fly. I then have a slightly deeper area (about 7.5 -10cm) under the water for more traditional marginals. However, I am worried my cotton will snap hence looking for another method!

Those ponds look really nice. I really hope the plants in mine dont die and start to look that nice!

Matt

The bricks were normal house bricks I think I washed them with just water they had been lying around the garden for a few years and have been in the barrel now for 3 plus years.

[msm]

Went with the brick method today and everything looks nicely hidden now!

While doing it I also noticed some small snails in the pond. Guess the eggs must have come on some plants as I didn't buy any. Really happy!

Matt

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by msm

Went with the brick method today and everything looks nicely hidden now!

While doing it I also noticed some small snails in the pond. Guess the eggs must have come on some plants as I didn't buy any. Really happy!

Matt

You will get all sorts in there I have water slaters I have no idea where they come from there is daphnea (spell)..too.

[kaitkaitkait]

For around the outside of your barrel you might like to try something a friend of mine did, although it takes a while for it to take effect...

Moss will grow on just about anything but especially on house bricks. She had a few in her garden that were growing moss happily and used them and some others to make a set of steps for frogs to get in and out of her raised pond - built them up around the edge as it were. After only a couple of seasons all the bricks were covered in moss (I think she stuffed some more in the cracks to help it along) and it looked really pretty! Also had the effect of not being too drying so if you get small froglets wanting to come out, they don't get stuck to the stones as they can get hot and dry without the moss covering them!

[msm]

What a fantastic idea. I guess, then, that frogs can easily get up a bricks depth (about 65mm)? Do you thing hedgehogs could also manage the climb?

I don't suppose you have a picture of this, or can remember how the bricks were laid out?

Thanks for the suggestion!

Matt

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by msm

What a fantastic idea. I guess, then, that frogs can easily get up a bricks depth (about 65mm)? Do you thing hedgehogs could also manage the climb?

I don't suppose you have a picture of this, or can remember how the bricks were laid out?

Thanks for the suggestion!

Matt

I have Ivy growing around mine they use this for climbing remember bricks can kill tiny frogs as they leave the pond they can dry out.

[msm]

I am thinking of using the bricks as a base and then adding soil to them to generate a ramp type effect. Also going to have a tray of shallow water at the top for the birds to bathe in and which will overflow across the bricks. Also want to plant some rockery type plants around the bricks to make it all look nice.

Ofcourse, I will actually have to "do" this, and my thoughts do not always map onto my ability, but I will give it a go and see. I did not know that frogs could climb!

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by msm

I am thinking of using the bricks as a base and then adding soil to them to generate a ramp type effect. Also going to have a tray of shallow water at the top for the birds to bathe in and which will overflow across the bricks. Also want to plant some rockery type plants around the bricks to make it all look nice.

Ofcourse, I will actually have to "do" this, and my thoughts do not always map onto my ability, but I will give it a go and see. I did not know that frogs could climb!

yes they climb very well..so do the newts..