Native frogs play an important role in our suburban gardens.
They eat lots of mosquito larvae, caterpillars, ants and other pests that attack your edible fruits and vegetables.
Sadly, native frog numbers are in decline due to declining habitat and our use of poisons in the garden. Frogs have thin skins that readily absorb common garden chemicals, including those in weed and feed lawn mixes.
Sedge frog in the garden
Native frogs will also die if they eat poisoned insects.
That is why it is better to avoid using pesticides. It is also better to use organic fertilisers from plant or animal sources, as inorganic fertilisers (and some organic ones) contain wetting agents that can be toxic to native frogs.
It is also important to have cool places where the frogs can live especially during our hot summers.
I have several shallow frog ponds in my garden, where the native frogs can live and breed. At present I have several stripey marsh frogs in the garden as well as some sedge frogs. The frogs eat mosquito larvae and other insects which helps to keep the garden healthy.
I also add pacific blue-eye fish to the water ponds to help keep them clear of mosquitos. The pacific blue-eyes are native fish that don’t eat frogs eggs so are best for these types of ponds.
Stripey marsh frog in the garden
I love listening to them call each other as I am drifting off to sleep. By having the frogs make a home in my garden it tells me that my garden is healthy so I can safely eat the plants that I grow.
Why not try and make your garden more frog friendly? If you provide the right environment they will come! Even better, join with neighbours to extend the frog friendly habitat.
Happy gardening 🙂
Rohanne, your Personal Garden Expert
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