Small water feature.

[grannyjanny]

We have recently been allocated an allotment, 1/2 plot. We disturbed a couple of toads when we were digging. We know there are frogs there so we would like to create a small water feature. I have a large green bell shaped plant pot without any drainage holes in it. Probably the same size a 40ltr trug which I could also use. How would I go about it please. Would I use rain water, would it need plants & how would I make sure wildlife didn't drown.
Janet

[Plocket]

I'm not an expert but I think even a little bit of water is useful. If it's going to be quite deep (which it sounds as though it might be) fill the bottom with gravel and put a stone in it so that frogs can get out of the water. I'd sink it into the ground if possible and rain water would be much better than tap water which will have chlorine in it. You might need an oxygenating plant to help keep the water healthy too. If you've got a good pond specialist nearby it might be an idea to go and chat to them.

[Chuckles]

What a lovely idea Janet. I'd probably have it part in the ground and maybe stack a few rocks or something around it that go right up to the top edge of the pot, or maybe just build rocks or bricks up on one side so as you can still see part of the pot. As long as there is something at edge of the water level for them to grip on to they will find thier way in and out. As Plocket said rain water would be best or are you able to get some water from an already established pond. Depending on how far you want to take this, you can get dwarf lillies and other small pond plants. I feel a nice seating area with wildlife water feature on the allotment ;D

I'm currently demolishing my pond in the garden, you've probably seen the thread in here. I am thinking about having something smaller just for wildlife so would love to see what you do Janet

[Deleted]

Hi folks, I'm a newbie here, been gardening for a long time - used to have an allotment but moved out to a village in the country so I now have a small garden. I used a cold water storage tank to make a pool -small, but deep, and put some plants in it last year for interest. I was going to add a lily and maybe a fish or two this year but I have found considerable numbers of small, black snails, both floating and on the remaining plants so I have done nothing yet. Any advice will be welcome. I'm looking for a suitable pic to represent me so more to come.

[carolann]

Sorry I cant help with the snail problem but
I have a well in the farm yard which has loads of black shelled snails floating and stuck to the sides also lots of tadpoles and sticklebacks in as well, I dont bother with it as there is a steady stream of water into and out of it, everything usually ends up down the Res which is at the bottom of the garden/farm yard. I'm sure someone will be able to help with your little pond as lots of folkes on here have some sort of water feature.

[Chuckles]

Hi Aggis and welcome, Ooooh I wished I lived nearer I'd take a few of them snails off your hands. I demolished my pond several months ago and since re siting it I seem to have lost all my snails

I'm not an expert with ponds but as far as I am aware snails help to keep a pond clean, they eat any algae although can nibble at the plants too, depends what you see as an exceptable level of them in the pond I guess.

As Carolann has said there are other members who have ponds and may have some other theory on snails in ponds. Your well sounds really interesting Carolann

[Deleted]

When I took on my first allotment 13 years ago there was a big clean up of the site in progress and I managed to cadge a bath tub!
We dug a hole and set the rim at soil level then,as it was winter it partially filled with rainwater by spring and then I topped it up with tap water.
At one end I stacked several bits of broken slab as both hidey holes for wildlife and escape route in and out of the water.
At the time I didn't have any pond plants but someone suggested Gardener's Garters(forgotten it's latin name) so I put a clump in pond plant pot,just barely submerged and it thrives still.
Now I've also got an oxygenating plant and frog-bit.
Within weeks I had frogs in there and now there are also plenty of newts.

[Barbara]

Jun 8, 2009 10:49:58 GMT Barbara said:

Here is my little water world, it was a sand-pit in another life.

If anyone knows the plant on the left at the bottom I would be glad if they could name it for me, it was given to me last week but it looks like a nettle to me

[Barbara]

I've got frogs in my pond.

[Ladygardener]

Oh my word Barbara how exciting. ;D It just goes to show you don't need a big fancy pond to get the wildlife to come visit. Well done, hope they stay for you. Have you spotted anything else?

[beanie]

I think most of the wildlife in my pond gets eaten before it gets very big by the fish. I did find a newt though when we cleared our some pond weed earlier this year. The leaves on your plant have as strawberry look about them , may be worth googling Fragaria