Who doesn’t love frogs?! Frogs and toads belong to the order of amphibians called Anura and likewise are collectively referred to as anurans. If you want to attract more anurans to your yard, keep reading this article for some tips on landscaping for frogs, and if you think we are crazy for wanting more frogs, hopefully the following section clears it up.
Why Frogs are Friends
Anurans are beneficial to the environment by eating mosquitos and other pests. Tadpoles also clean the water by eating algae and plant debris. Additionally, frogs are food for other animals such as birds, dragonflies, fish, and monkeys. Because frogs have permeable skin, they are susceptible to toxins in the water making them a bioindicator for clean fresh water. Unfortunately, for this same reason, frogs and amphibians are in decline from human-induced contamination of our waterways. They desperately need your backyard habitat now more than ever.
How to Be a Frog Friend
Frogs need a body of freshwater to spawn and for tadpoles to grow. Start with any container that holds water. Any size will do. You can pick up a pond liner from the hardware store, usually with options anywhere in your price range. These are better options than kiddie pools, because they are more durable and typically BPA-free. There are really a lot of options, and feel free to get creative with it. If you are replacing your old tub, maybe it’s a great time to build a tub pond. Our pond is made from an upcycled wheelbarrow.
This is the most important aspect: make sure the slides have a gentle slope for young froglets and toadlets to exit the water. You can create a sloping entry/exit using pebbles, sand, or rocks. I used pea gravel and lava rock. Fill your pond with native water plants to filter the water and provide food, shade, and shelter for the pond dwellers. If you are in the Houston area, check out Green Star Wetland Plant Farm (https://greenstarwetlands.com/) for your wetland plant needs.
Hop In Line
Once you’ve made your water feature and gently sloping exit, you are ready to host the frogs. I should warn you that this will be an auditory experience for you and your neighbors. Anurans find their mate with their calls late into the night, which increase in ferocity after a rain. After enjoying the anurans that visit your yard for a while, talk to neighbors about how they can join in on the festivities and begin landscaping for frogs.
Maintaining Your Pond
Make sure when you add water to your pond that it is free of toxins and chemicals. Filter out any chlorine, fluoride, etc. that may be in the tap water before using it. Also be sure never to use glyphosate around your pond. For more information on that, see the links at the bottom of the page in further reading. Also note, that fish eat tadpoles, so it would be best if you pass on fish if you want frogs. Be careful when you clean out plant matter from the surface, as this is where tadpoles and spawn may exist. Take lots of pictures to document your frog parenthood, and tag us on instagram!
Toadally Awesome Organizations
Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) https://parcplace.org/
By the way, Native Plant Society of Texas - Houston chapter is putting on a Wildscapes Workshop this year with an amphibian talk. The theme is Beyond Butterflies: Why Wasps, Spiders, and Toads Matter. You can register on eventbrite starting August 1st, 2023.
For more great wildscaping tips, follow my instagram @Wilescapes.
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