Frogs are fascinating native Australian amphibians. Not only are they gorgeous with their permanent smiles on their faces, they are a welcome addition to any garden, as they consume mosquitos and flies.
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If you would like to attract frogs to your backyard, here are some tips on making your garden frog friendly:
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Choose a quiet spot in your yard away from domestic animals. The area should have sun, shade and a wet area. This means you will probably have to incorporate a pond. This need not be expensive. You can recycle materials such as buckets, plant pots, sand pits or purchase one second-hand. Dig your pond into the ground and add water.
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It is important to have a well-balanced ecosystem which means ensuring you have vegetation and animals working together to maintain a healthy environment. Your pond will thrive if you add frog-friendly fish who don’t feed on eggs and tadpoles. Your local pet store should be able to assist with this.
Various water plants will provide tadpoles with a place to shelter, as well as keeping your water clean and well oxygenated.
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Native plants and a solar light around your pond will attract insects for your frogs to eat, as well as providing the frogs with somewhere to shelter from the sun and potential predators.
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If you have a compost bin, consider relocating it near your frog pond. This will supply your frogs with a constant supply of bugs!
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You could even incorporate a frog hotel into your garden. Frog hotels are designed for tree frogs which can easily climb through pipes. To build a frog hotel, just cut some pvc pipes into different lengths, then sand the rough edges at both ends. Arrange the pipes in a pot plant or small pond. Ensure there is adequate gravel or river rocks surrounding them to hold them in place, then add water. You'll having frogs in no time!