How to Start a Frog Pond: A Step-by-Step Guide for Australian Gardens

on Oct 16 2026

There's nothing quite like hearing frogs calling from your own garden on a warm spring evening. The good news is that a frog pond is one of the easiest ponds to build. It doesn't need to be big, it doesn't need fish, and it doesn't need much equipment. What it does need is the right shape, the right plants and clean water.

Spring is the perfect time to start. Frogs are most active from spring to autumn, especially after rain, so a pond built now has the best chance of being found this season.

This guide walks you through building a frog pond step by step. For our full list of frog-friendly plants, see The Best Pond Plants for Attracting and Supporting Frogs in Australia.

Step 1: Choose the right spot

Part sun, part shade. Aim for a spot with morning sun and some afternoon shade. Shallow water warms quickly for tadpoles, but full afternoon sun in summer can overheat a small pond.
Close to cover. Frogs move between the pond and nearby garden beds, shrubs and ground covers. A pond surrounded by bare lawn or paving is harder for them to reach safely.
Away from big trees. Falling leaves foul the water, and tree roots can damage a liner.
Somewhere you can see it. Half the fun is watching the frogs and tadpoles, so put it where you'll enjoy it.

Step 2: Choose your pond type

A frog pond can be almost any size. Choose what suits your space:

A lined, in-ground pond. The most natural option, because you can shape it exactly how frogs like it. A Firestone Pondeasy Rubber Liner 2m x 3m suits a small frog pond, or the 3m x 4m liner for something larger.
A no-dig pond. The Blagdon Liberty Solar No Dig Nature Pool clicks together with no digging, and comes with a solar fountain, a wildlife ladder and a shallow bathing beach. Handy for courtyards and rented homes.
A container or half wine barrel. Even a large water bowl can attract frogs if it's well planted and has an easy way in and out. See our water bowl and patio pond plants.

Step 3: Shape it for frogs

This is the most important step. Frogs need to get in and out of the water easily, and they lay their eggs in shallow, warm water.

Make the edges shallow and sloping. At least one side should slope gently, like a beach, rather than dropping straight down.
Add a shelf. Dig a shelf around the edge for baskets of marginal plants.
Keep it fairly shallow. A depth of 25–70cm at the deepest point is plenty. The deeper part keeps the water cooler in summer and gives tadpoles somewhere to retreat.

Step 4: Build the pond

Mark out the shape with a hose or rope, then dig, leaving the shelf and sloping edge in place.
Remove sharp stones and roots, then lay a soft underlay such as sand, old carpet or a pond underlay to protect the liner.
Lay the liner loosely in the hole and start filling it slowly. The weight of the water pulls the liner into shape.
Trim the liner, leaving a generous overlap around the edge, and hide it under soil, rocks and plants.
Place rocks on the sloping edge, with their faces angled into the water, to make easy ramps in and out.

Want more detail on building? Read How to Build a Pond in a Weekend.

Step 5: Fill it with frog-safe water

Frogs absorb chemicals through their skin, so the water matters.

Rainwater is best. If you have a tank, use it.
Treat tap water. Town water contains chlorine or chloramine, which can harm frogs and tadpoles. Treat it with a dechlorinator such as API Tap Water Conditioner when you fill the pond and every time you top it up.
Let it settle. Give the pond a week or so to settle before planting.

Step 6: Plant it up

Plants are what turn a hole full of water into a frog habitat. Aim to cover about two thirds of the pond with a mix of:

Tall edge plants for shelter and calling posts, such as Frog Grass and Water Iris.
Spreading cover plants for tadpoles to hide in, such as Running Marsh Flower and Hairy Nardoo.
Oxygenators to keep the water healthy, such as Upright Water Milfoil.
Flowering plants to bring in insects for frogs to eat, such as Pink Rotala.

The easiest way to get the right mix is our Frog Attracting Pond Plant Starter Pack. Shop all frog habitat plants.

Step 7: Create habitat around the pond

Most frogs spend more time out of the water than in it, so the area around your pond matters too.

Plant dense ground covers, grasses and shrubs nearby for shelter.
Add logs, rocks and leaf litter where frogs can hide during the day.
Push a few lengths of PVC pipe into the ground near the pond to make a "frog hotel" for tree frogs.
Avoid pesticides and snail baits anywhere near the pond.

Step 8: Add gentle water movement (optional)

A frog pond doesn't need a filter, but gently moving water adds oxygen and helps stop mosquitoes breeding. A small solar pump is ideal because there's no need to run power to the pond. The PondMAX PS200 Solar Pump is designed for small ponds without fish and has built-in flow control, and the Bioscape Floating Solar Fountain simply floats on the surface. Keep the flow gentle around the shallow edges where eggs and tadpoles shelter. Browse all solar pond pumps.

Step 9: Leave out the fish

All fish will eat frog eggs and tadpoles if they get the chance. For a dedicated frog pond, leave fish out altogether. If you'd like a few, choose small native fish and keep plenty of plant cover.

Step 10: Be patient

Please don't collect frogs, tadpoles or spawn from elsewhere and move them into your pond. Native frogs are protected in Australia, and moving them can spread disease. Build the habitat and let local frogs find it. In areas with healthy frog populations, they can turn up within weeks, especially after spring and summer rain.

When your first tadpoles arrive, our Tadpole Care 101 guide has everything you need to know.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to build a frog pond?

Spring. Frogs are active and breeding from spring to autumn, and plants establish quickly as the weather warms.

Do I need a filter for a frog pond?

No. A well-planted frog pond with plenty of oxygenators usually stays healthy without a filter. A small solar pump for gentle water movement is a nice extra.

How deep should a frog pond be?

25–70cm at the deepest point, with shallow, gently sloping edges and a shelf for plants.

Can I fill a frog pond with tap water?

Yes, but treat it with a dechlorinator first. Rainwater is even better.

Will a frog pond attract mosquitoes?

A well-planted pond with frogs and gently moving water is far less likely to be a problem. See our guide to mosquito-proofing your garden pond.

Ready to get started? Shop our frog habitat plants and give your local frogs a new home this spring.

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