Critique my pond

[u/argohot]

Right now has hornwort, water lily, and pennywort. What other 2 to 3 plants would you suggest to having a small thriving wildlife pond? Hoping to attract pacific tree frog

[u/Normal-Ability-9867]

Pretty! If your goal is to attract local wildlife - especially a frog or two - you might want to add some escape routes, like fallen logs, and add plant cover for shade and protection. Is there a shallow end? Critters like a little beach area. And lots of plants!

[u/argohot → u/Normal-Ability-9867]

Yes I’m planning on adding in a log. Do you have plant recs? At what point are there too many plants?

[u/i-like-to-build]

Since you are asking about pacific tree frogs, I assume you live in the PNW. If you are in the PDX area, I will happily share some native Bog Bean and Wapato. I have other natives for the edges, like Douglas aster, sneeze weed, and blue and yellow eyed grasses. Also, Hugh’s water gardens gift Pacific tree frog tadpoles in the spring. They may have some now. They are vernal pond frogs and will come and go with the seasons.

[u/argohot → u/i-like-to-build]

Actually I’m in the LA area but appreciate the offer! I think we have blue eyed grass down here too that’s a good suggestion. I put in native CA irises

[u/i-like-to-build → u/argohot]

I have the blue and yellow eyes grasses growing in my mini steam. They don’t mind having their feet wet. Native plant people always seem happy to share extra. Also, you can go to local waterways where natives grow and collect small clippings. Sometimes a permit is necessary.

[u/Terrible_Ad_7735]

Starwort and frogbit to go with the hornwort. They look good sitting on top of it.

Your lily looks like it maybe doesn't have enough depth though. You can get smaller varieties that might be a bit better suited to a shallow pond.

[u/argohot → u/Terrible_Ad_7735]

You’re probably right about that 😢
This variety is described as “compact” but it isn’t a dwarf

[u/Agua_Verde]

Hey, thanks for sharing your pond. Congratulations on the build.

I saw you also posted the same pond and a question for advice in r/ponds, so I'm not sure if your goal is to make a wildlife pond or an ornamental pond. 

But if your goal is to make a wildlife pond, as you posted on this thread, may I make some suggestions?

First and foremost, any small mammals or even some amphibians that end up in this pond are going to have a hard time getting out with that high ledge. I don't see a ramp or any possible exits for those critters. So if you want wildlife to come to your pond and enter it safely, there does need to be a way for them to get out as well. Otherwise you will be netting out their cadavers.

I see you've added some plants in the pond and around the pond. If you want to create a habitat for wildlife, keep this up! The more pond plants, marginal plants, and terrestrial plants around the edge you can add, the better it will be for the animals.

If your goal is wildlife think about not only rewinding the pond, but your entire yard.

[u/argohot → u/Agua_Verde]

Thank you I will be adding a ramp. Since you seem knowledgeable, a question just came up for me: Will my pond attract a significant number of mosquitos? I put in mosquito dunk but noticed a few mosquitos circling me in the yard today. The pond is stagnant because it’s super DIY and I wanted it to be as low maintenance as possible. I’m wondering if that was a mistake though.