Fellow humans, frogs need our help. Amphibians in general are facing threats that have already wiped out around 200 species around the world in the last few decades. If tree frogs live in your area, assembling a shelter for them can be a beneficial addition to these small animals’ habitats. A key ingredient is PVC pipe. Researchers have concluded that shelters made from these pipes have the potential to shield tree frog species from many of the threats that are decimating other amphibian species.
Luckily for us, we can put together PVC frog shelters that bring biodiversity into our gardens. With a little effort, treat your webbed-footed visitors to luxury digs in your yard. Gather up some PVC pipes, elbow joints in a few different widths, some gravel and stones, and a large flower pot or tub. Several pipes mounted vertically in the pots and topped with elbow joints make perfect nests for storm-weary tree frogs.
Give your frog hotel amenities like a water feature and some moisture-loving plants. A mini pond made in a depression in the gravel can provide both ambiance and necessary water for your guests. Plants that both offer shelter and attract bugs are a smart accessory for your pot. To double up on your positive ecological impact, look into plants that are native to your area and that grow well in wet soil.
Build Your Frog Hotel
Scout out a few shady spots for the pot that will house the hotel in your yard or on your porch. Before adding anything to the pot, check if it has drainage holes. If it does, you’ll need to fit it with a water-tight lining so it will hold water.
A frog hotel is a savvy way to repurpose extra PVC pipes in your garden. Your PVC pipes can be as narrow as 1 inch, but they can be 2 inches wide and larger, as well. People commonly group pipes of a few different sizes together. There doesn’t appear to be a prescribed height for pipes in frog hotels. However, in some areas, there are invasive or undesirable species you can avoid by choosing a particular width and height for your pipes. A bit of research on local frog and toad species can help you land on ideal pipe sizes.
Cut your pipes to your desired length and either sand the edges or finish them off with elbow joints. Fill your pot with a few inches of stones and gravel. If you’d like your pipes to be a different color, you can paint them at this time. Make sure to use non-toxic outdoor paint and only cover the exterior. Holding your pipes in place in the middle of the pot, pour more gravel and stones around the pipes until they feel secure.
Finishing Touches
Place elbow joints on the tops of the pipes, and fill the pot with water up to the top layer of stones. If you want a pond feature, form a shallow basin about 1 ½ to 2 inches deep in the stones. Add lighting if you choose. A solar light will not only give your hotel a homey glow at night, it can also lure in flying insects and attract frogs to your garden.
Arrange your potted plants around the pipes. Since you’ll want to keep the water level consistently high in the main pot, keep plants in their separate pots for better drainage. Try to maintain a few inches of water inside each pipe. Keep an eye on water levels in both the pipes and the pots every few days, refilling them when needed.
Check the pipes periodically to see if any frogs have moved in. It doesn’t need to be stormy in order for froggy friends to hunker down in your hotel, either. In fact, they tend to venture out in rainy weather to look for mates. Prepare a couple of backup locations for your frog hotel; if tree frogs don’t move in after a few weeks, try one of your other options.
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