Ugly raised bed/pond… ideas to transform?

[WanderingWildflower]

Our new house has one of those raised brick beds with a small plastic pond, surrounded by gravel. It is quite ugly but I would really like to transform it into something beautiful and wildlife friendly, but I’m a bit of a novice gardener. I’d like to keep the pond as I’ve seen a couple of frogs who obviously use it as a bit of a holiday home!!

The idea I have in my head is to move the gravel temporarily and plant lots of colourful flowers surrounding the pond, clean it and add some pond flowers then replace the gravel.

Are there any pitfalls to this idea? Are there any specific plants I should consider?

Small ponds are not a great idea, the area is not enough to keep a good balance. The frogs don’t live in the pond, they might use it to breed, although that’s unlikely unless it has a lot of cover. They prefer damp undergrowth, where the things they eat live as well.

i would be more inclined take out the pond and make a proper raised bed with some evergreen shrubs and some nectar rich perennials. Get a bird bath ( or two) and keep it clean and well topped up, that’s much better for wildlife.

I don't agree, I find that any water will attract a huge amount of wildlife. Of course bigger is better, but you can even have a container pond be effective.

Can you post a picture OP? It would help us give advice. In general surrounding ponds with plants is a good idea, but there are other things you may be able to do too. What shape is it?

It's honestly not an impossible job to take the pond out, knock the walls down with a sledgehammer and then reinstall the pond with level and sloping edges to make it better for the wildlife.

It's up to you (obviously) but if you're going to do something, why not think about doing the thing properly?

If you're not up for that then the wall could be used to your advantage, I think. It could help contain water for a boggy environment around the pond into which loads of marginals will grow. Loads of possibilities here: plantsforponds.co.uk/collections/pond-marginals?gclid=CjwKCAiAuOieBhAIEiwAgjCvct40vWPFK1XLG-fD1seh0Z_KnDmDNPoOmn6NUhf_wcgXSqAoJ9BDLxoCV-oQAvD_BwE

To do that, remove the gravel and make sure the soil below is a moisture retentive one. Plant and re add the gravel or switch it out for something a bit softer like chipped bark or bigger river stones.

The marginals would provide the cover for your frogs. I'd be tempted to add a ramp to the side of the wall, to mke it easier for things to get in and out the rasied bed. If you Google Hedgehog ramp you'll see the kind of thing I mean.

Any pond big or small is a positive for wildlife especially your frogs who will be breeding soon. It’s difficult to suggest without a picture, position etc. I inherited a very ugly concrete pond 7 years ago in our new home went to begin filling it in (very young Dc) and discovered newts so we didn’t. 7 years on it’s lovely. Cleaned it out, planted some water lily and other pond plants, added oxygenating ones too. Around the pond I planted with hosta & ferns which now hide the concrete edge. Marginals didn’t work as it was too dry. It’s a haven with frogs & newts, dragonflies in the summer and so many other insects and a valuable water source and bath for the birds in the area very glad I didn’t fill it in.

Thanks for the comments, I will try and attach a photo.

I’m definitely not up for knocking it down as I’m not very handy and I have a toddler so I will inevitably end up getting sidetracked and I don’t want to leave it unsafe. Plus I don’t want to make it look worse!

I could be tempted to get rid of the pond and just have a flower bed but if it is of any benefit at all to the wildlife I’d like to keep it.

Gonna check out these plant ideas, thank you!

Ponds of all sizes are fab for wildlife, just make sure there are decent access points, and creatures can get in and out ok. The Wildlife Pond Book is great.

Reconfigure then pond to incorporate a sloping “beach” area if you can.
But toddlers and ponds at home are a frightening combination.

a few thoughts

• do keep the pond - they are great for wildlife.
• you don't have to take out the gravel to plant stuff. Just dig a hole in the gravel for each plant (assuming there is soil below) and pop them in, then push the gravel back around. the gravel will stop weeds growing and look good
• colourful flowers tend to look great in summer but die back to nothing in winter. consider getting some ferns or interesting grasses which will also look nice in winter.
• Iris can be good if you have a boggy bit of soil at the edge of the pond.
• look at 'Beth Chatto gravel garden' for ideas of things that would grow well in the gravel area.

and do make sure that your toddler can't get anywhere near the pond.