Gardening for Dragonflies, Frogs & Toads

A garden designed to attract these elusive creatures must include a pond. This pond can be very simple, or very ornate, depending on how much time and effort you want to give. If this is your first, it might be best to start out small.

You can start by simply digging a hole about 2 meters deep, padding it with sand and installing the liner. Elevate the soil around the pond slightly so excess water will flow away from it. Be sure to build the pond away from an area that will allow flow right into your house! Provide landscaping around the edge of the pond and add some aquatic plants if you wish. You should choose a partially shady area to build your pond (no more than 4 hours of sunlight) or the algae may get out of control.

Frogs and toads will be especially appreciative of your their new pond. They are often hard-pressed to find a good home, often resorting to dangerous swimming pools. Keep in mind that your pond must be at least 2 meters deep in its deepest section in order for tadpoles to survive. Also, it can take them 3 years to fully mature, so you'll need to maintain your pond as a permanent structure.

Build a small pile of rocks about 1 meter from the edge of the pool for a resting place for creatures.

Do not stock your pond with fish if you want amphibians to stick around. The fish will eat their young.

Most importantly, BE PATIENT! It may take a little while for creatures to find your new pond. Never bring the creatures in yourself. Frogs have been known to travel 3 kilometers to return to the pond they grew up in!

For the toads, build a toad abode...Get a medium-sized clay pot with saucer. Place the saucer on the ground and fill with water. Take the pot and break a small chunk out of the lip of the pot. You will turn the pot upside-down near the saucer and the toads should be able to fit through the hole you created. They will use this during the day, and come out at night to feed.

To encourage dragonflies, the pond should be sunny for a good part of the day. It should also have a shallow berm with emergent vegetation and perching sticks along the perimeter. It should most importantly be fishless. If there are large frogs around, the dragonflies won't lay their eggs in your pond.

Can't identify your local dragonflies? Get a field guide here!

Need help with your amphibians as well? Click here.