Making your garden frog friendly

Getting Started

Your first step should be to find out what species of frogs are found in your area. This is important! Learning about the specific needs of your local frogs will help you to create an environment that will attract them to your garden. Start by checking out field guides for frogs and contact your local frog group for more information.

Habitat

When making a 'frog friendly' habitat you will need to consider…

Shelter: Frogs need plenty of shelter. Having plants of various heights will create shade and provide them with some places to hide from predators and shelter from the wind. Ask at your local nursery for advice on the best local varieties of native plants to use. Be careful not to plant trees so they are directly above the pond, particularly if they lose their leaves. Some trees like oleanders and pines have toxic leaves which can poison the water.

Humidity: Frogs need plenty of moisture. Vegetation is important! In particular, a well-vegetated native garden including ground covers; understorey plants; and small to large trees will decrease wind movement which helps to increase humidity. Using mulch on your garden is also a good idea, use a natural leafy mulch (not pine bark as this can be too acidic) around garden beds and ponds.

Places for frogs to breed: Ponds will need to have shady coverings and aquatic plants to provide suitable places for your frogs to breed.

Attracting insects: Frogs eat a variety of insects, to help attract insects to your garden:
Mulch your garden beds;
Keep a compost heap;
Have a wide variety of local native plants;
Don't use insecticides around your garden

Helpful Hints

Don't locate your pond under your window (or your neighbour's!) Frogs can be quite loud!
Avoid using chemicals in your garden. Frog skin is quite thin and easily absorbs chemicals. It can also be deadly if they eat poisoned insects.
It is best not to move frogs, even within suburbs. If the new area is not quite right, they will most likely die, migrate away or interfere with frogs that belong there.

If frogs are slow to arrive to your garden try playing a tape of frog calls on a hot humid night. Once one arrives, the others will follow quickly and then you will have your very own frog chorus!

To help prevent frogs drowning in your swimming pool provide a sloping float at the edge of the pool to help them get out.
A garden night light near the pond will provide attractive reflections and also encourage insects over the pond for the frogs to eat.The Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis), Goldfish and carp should NEVER be introduced into any pond or frog habitat. These introduced fish feast on tadpoles and cause considerable harm to native fish, frogs and other aquatic life.

And here’s a handy hint for breeding green tree frogs: Get cast-off lettuce leaves from the fruit shop, boil in water and feed to tadpoles, otherwise they eat each other before they become beautiful green tree frogs. Bet you didn't know that! Thanks to Elieen Hopkins, former QCC volunteer and now donor, for the tip!

Next Page - Disappearing Frogs