Build the backyard frog pond you didn’t know you needed

By B ridget R eed Morawski The Washington Post

It’s not easy being green, as a famous frog once sang — and in recent decades, just surviving has become even harder for frogs and other amphibians.

They are experiencing a 3.79% average annual decline in the United States, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, which notes on its website that “if this rate remains unchanged, some species will disappear from half of the habitats they occupy in about 20 years.” Those habitats — particularly the wetlands frogs use for breeding — are disappearing, too, according to Mike Benard, the interim biology department chair at Case Western Reserve University whose research focuses on amphibian ecology.

Making space for frogs supports local biodiversity and can provide natural insect control for your property. So how can the average homeowner help? One way is to create a frog pond in your backyard, whether it’s with an unused kiddie pool, PVC pipes hammered into the ground or an in-ground water feature. Here are some suggestions from Benard and other experts to help you get started.

What do frogs need in a pond?

Any kind of impervious vessel filled with rainwater will provide frogs with a place where they can lay eggs and tadpoles can grow. So yes, a few containers of water will work just as well, but a frog pond has the added benefit of being an aesthetically pleasing and serene addition to your outdoor space, says Amy Hovis, an Austin-based garden designer who has built several frog ponds for clients. “It’s just hard to see a frog and not feel some joy,” she says, adding that knowing frogs are eating mosquitoes and other “unbeneficial insects is also satisfying.”

The length, width and depth of the pond doesn’t matter too much — Benard has seen some tree frogs and toads breed in 60-inch-wide plastic kiddie pools — but determining how large you want to make the pond and where it will go will ensure you purchase a pond liner that will fit.

A frog pond needs to offer shelter options where frogs can hide from predators and the sun. They don’t have to be elaborate or custom-built, like the multilevel frog chateau empire created by the man behind the TikTok account @ unknowndazza. Hovis likes to use 3- or 4-foot-wide boulders in and around the perimeter of a pond, but overturned or partially buried pots, unraked leaves and pieces of untreated wood can also serve as frog shelters.

Although you may like to relax in hot water, not all frogs do. But Mark Mandica, the co-founder and executive director of the Amphibian Foundation in Atlanta, says there’s no need to obsessively regulate the pond temperature, because “temperature extremes remain consistent with nature, and the amphibians can deal with the extreme colds and hots, and even freezing temperatures successfully.”

Lighting does matter, though; different species may prefer dappled sun, full sun or full shade. Do some research on your local frog populations to make sure you’re creating an environment that will help them thrive.

Aquatic plants also provide shelter and shade, creating different temperature zones in the water, and they help ensure the pond has the varying depths frogs need. Having multiple shallow exit points is crucial, according to Hovis, and is “the most important difference between a regular water feature and a frog pond.”

“A water feature with straight, deep sides can be extremely dangerous for a frog,” she adds. “They might jump in, not be able to get out and die.”

Whether you want to help specific species or just want to broadly support frogs, reach out to your local extension water basins without the predators that would be in longer-lasting waters. school or natural resources agency, which can tell you which aquatic plants are best. Once you buy those plants, follow the spacing and depth instructions provided by the nursery, says Mandica, to create an appropriately deep pond for frogs.

“If someone has an area on their property that’s already kind of swampy, you might want to not dig that out, that might already be in an ephemeral wetland,” says Mandica. If that’s what you have, try not to interfere with the ecosystem, even when it’s dry. The Penn State Extension recommends not adding or removing plants, wildlife or natural debris, and says to avoid activities that could reduce water quality or disrupt the natural flow of water. That includes cutting down trees, applying fertilizers that could run off into the pool or using off-road vehicles nearby. Even if you don’t have an ephemeral pool or the desire to build out a pond, you can still support nearby wetlands by preserving adjacent the woodland that sit at a slightly higher elevation around wetlands.

If you use lawn care chemicals or have other concerns about water quality, you should conduct regular water tests, Mandica says. But otherwise, strive to “let nature manage it as much as possible,” he suggests.

And while standing water might seem like a magnet for mosquitoes, Mandica says that shouldn’t be a problem because adult frogs “consume tons of mosquitoes each year.”

A “healthy amphibian habitat leads to much smaller or nonexistent mosquito populations,” he adds.

What can I do beyond a pond?

A pond can aid many frogs, but some species only breed in ephemeral or vernal pools, which are seasonal, natural

“Although a wetland itself may not be altered, without the surrounding upland habitat the wetland will not continue to be productive and species such as reptiles and amphibians will eventually be lost,” says Mandica. Even just leaving leaf litter, logs or rocks around your property helps provide a similar habitat, as does replacing lawn space with native plants and trees, he adds.

Think before you leap

Before you pick up a shovel or hire someone, contact your state’s natural resources agency, a conservation group or the local extension program.

Those organizations will have the expertise to guide you through local concerns — such as invasive species that might want to colonize a pond — that could impact your project. They can also help make sure you aren’t disturbing other types of appropriate frog habitats.

It’s also courteous to check in with neighbors before installing a frog pond, Benard says.

Pond

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F6

Frogs can be exceedingly noisy, and one person’s soothing aural ambiance can be another’s bedtime soundtrack from hell. While he gets plenty of emails from people who want to make their yards more amphibian-friendly, he says, “occasionally, I also get emails from people who have just moved into a new area and they want to know how to get the frogs to shut up in their backyard.”

Mold

CONTINUES FROM PAGE F5

Clean up pet accidents and spills quickly and completely, and vacuum frequently with a HEPA filter.

2. Closets

Most closets are closed off, unheated and full of clutter — creating the perfect conditions for mold. Cracking and/or opening doors occasionally will help increase airflow, or you could replace the closet doors with curtains, as Bernard did in her home. Scan closet walls and corners from top to bottom, and remove ground-level items to inspect the floor. In closets, attics and any other area used for storage, Fish suggests replacing cardboard boxes (a favorite of mold) with plastic storage bins that seal.

3. Laundry room

Check for leaks around the standpipe — the thruway where water discharges from the washing machine — and make sure the drain hose hasn’t come loose. Drain hoses wear out and leak so be sure to replace them every 5 to 10 years. The same goes for washer door seals; if they’ve become brittle or are covered in mold or mildew that won’t wipe off, it’s best to replace them. Depending on the model, this can usual- ly be done without hiring an appliance repair professional. Dryers should vent to the home’s exterior, not up into the attic. Fish recently inspected a home where “there was probably 15 years of wet dryer lint blown into the attic and it rotted the sheeting and damaged the framing.” Also check the dryer vent duct for cracks and kinks so wet lint isn’t blowing (and growing mold) on the wall behind the unit.

Homes are built more airtight than in the past, and some type of ventilation in the laundry room is important to reduce humidity, says Fish. If your laundry room has a fan, run it frequently and ensure that it vents to the exterior of the home.

4. Kitchen Fish says to slide out your appliances, particularly the refrigerator, periodically to inspect and clean around and under them. If your fridge has a built-in ice-maker or water dispenser, make sure the water line is kink-free to prevent leaks that can lead to mold. Check every appliance that has a drip pan regularly, including water heaters, furnaces and HVAC systems, even if they are hard to access. Look under the sink (yes, all the way in the back) often. Fish recommends using rubber mats in the cabinet under the sink to catch potential drips. “Most folks don’t have custom wood cabinets so it’s all particle board or MDF-type cabinetry,” he says. “Once that stuff absorbs water, it just puffs up,” molds and spreads to the wall. Monitor all caulking, especially around the backsplash, for cracks or shrinkage that can allow water to seep through.

Do a tissue test to ensure that fans, including the one in your range hood, are working properly: Does a piece of facial or toilet tissue stick to the cover when it’s running? If yes, then you’re good. Running fans throughout the home can help maintain recommended humidity levels.

Fish says to remove fan covers to clean them fully. “It’s the most common place we never see people clean,” he says. Check inside the fan for mold, too.

Of course bathrooms are prime spots for mold, but the potential breeding grounds go beyond walls and under-sink cabinets. People often store slow-drying items such as paper products and towels in bathroom cupboards. Inspect them for signs of moisture. Also look

Frogs can be exceedingly noisy, and one person’s soothing aural ambiance can be another’s bedtime soundtrack from hell.

(SUBMITTED) at all bathroom caulking and wipe surface mold off, but note that if the caulk is impregnated with spores, it needs to be replaced. Never caulk over caulk; it won’t adhere properly and you’ll just be giving the mold more food. origination. Lock Days: 30-60. Annual percentage rates (APRs) are based on fully indexed rates for adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs). The APR on your specific loan may differ from the sample used. Fees reflect charges relative to the APR. If your down payment is less than 20% of the home’s value, you will be subject to private mortgage insurance, or PMI. FHA mortgages include both UFMIP and MIP fees based on loan amount of $165,000 with 5% down payment. VA mortgages include funding fees based on loan amount of $165,000 with 5%

Sit backward on your toilet for what Fish calls “the straddle test.” If it wiggles from side to side, the floor seal could be leaking. Check behind the pedestal on the floor as well, where condensation from the tank often drips unseen.

Bubbling paint, peeling wallpaper and swollen floorboards could indicate a problem below the surface. If you find mold, the EPA says you can usually clean a 10-square-foot area independently. For anything larger, call an expert.