Pond plants

[BooseysMom]

Hi, we have a small pond which has been taken over by the marginals we planted last year. They have gone mad and covered the whole surface! We want to try and attract frogs but need to plant up the edges more. Some new plants we put in around the edges last year have died over the winter.
Do we cut back the overgrown plants that are submerged, or leave them to it?
Thanks for any advice you can give.

I’ve found alpine strawberries are much loved as a habitat by baby frogs.

you’ll need to clear plants from the pond that are taking up too much of the clear water space - do it in autumn to disturb wildlife as little as possible, and leave them on the side for a couple of days to give creepy crawlies a chance to get back into the pond.

Hi Mere thanks for the advice..I didn't realise this! I love finding baby frogs in the grass. We found one last autumn and it may have been about to find a place to hibernate in the messy place behind the greenhouse. I was hoping it would want to come to our pond in the spring, but no sign as yet. I think there isn't enough cover around the edge. Lots of plants died over the winter. (See photo)

Cover doesn’t need to hang over the edge, it just needs to be no more than a frog hop away.

make sure you have a pile of stones somewhere in the pond high enough to get over the edge - that last 2inches of black plastic might be enough to defeat a tiny new frog

Ah thank you! Yes I was thinking the same thing today. Maybe some sort of little ramp is needed as it's quite deep to the shelf of the pond where the marginals are planted in aquatic pots

Lots of plants in the pond is great - but don't let them cover more than 75% of the surface.
Will the ones that have overgrown survive in the water or are they dead? If dead cut all back, if alive just cut back a bit so that there's not too much coverage.
I constantly have to clear the duck weed that threatens to completely cover my pond at the slightest hint of sunshine, I just leave it on the side for a bit - the newts jump back in sharpish!
I think something to help things get in and out might be a good idea. I use thick tree branches, the birds use them as well to drink and bathe.

Thanks, that's great advice! Well the plants have started growing again now so I might cut some back and hope that doesn't kill it. I have been picking out the blanket weed and leaving it on the edge and yesterday I piled up some rocks to encourage frogs. It might not help that there isn't enough plants around the pond and in the garden generally as its a new one. We have more lawn than plants! We have left it long so far and will try not to mow it for a while (No Mow May) although that will probably upset the neighbours!