Pondering

Usually by now I have soft seedlings planted in the garden vulnerable to marauding snails so, before going to bed I go out with a torch, collect as many as possible and put them in the garden waste recycling bin. 

  

This has not been necessary so far this year.

 

From Facebook Archives. 

 

 

11 May 2018 at 23:29 ·

1 snail, 4 frogs in the pond, cool and dry.

Ms PH Do the water snails eat your plants?

Bentonbag Don't have any water plants, the snails eat algae so help keep the pond clean.

Ms PH Thanks.x .  Didn't know. Have severe pond envy now the weather is nice. Xxx

Bentonbag It's only the size of a paddling pool.  Actually it's got so popular with local frogs I've installed Frogpond 2, by sinking a storage box into the 'flower' bed next to the garage.   

It has a slate escape ramp, a broken teapot and flower pot and slate shelf for things to hide under.

Ms PH Thanks Ben.  I installed a small pond in my house in Whittingham when I used to come to Tyne Bridge. It was such a joy and soon full of frogs which my dog Jess liked to rub noses with.  Just need someone to do the digging!!! xx

Bentonbag As long as it's not too deep you don't have to dig.  Just get something that will hold water and surround it with plant pots or planters, with plants in for shelter and/or bricks to hold it in place and give them a route up.  Fill, or allow it to fill, with rainwater and wait and see.   

If you put some bricks, or even pots, in to get different levels then you may get birds down for a bath.  Watering hole for hedgehogs and insect (wasps drink water, I've seen them) also snails - and if you're out at night you can sometimes catch them at it. And of course water attracts insects which attract insect eating birds.

Old photo but this is Frogpond 1.  Clam shell paddling pool pushed up against garden and supported with planters.  That one at the front has wood violets in it.

Mind you, you'd probably need to get someone to help with the heavy lifting.

Ms PH Yeah I would. But thanks for the lovely ideas.