How to create a barrel pond for wildlife | WWT

Adding water to your outdoor space is one of the most important things you can do for wildlife. It is vital habitat for wetland wildlife like frogs and dragonflies. Creating a barrel pond is one of the easiest, most accessible ways to bring wildlife to your space as you only need a small bit of hard standing land. It’s also great for many species of garden plant, insect, bird and mammal.

We used lot of plants in this barrel pond to show variety. You don’t need to use that many – 3 plants would be absolutely fine for a barrel pond and allows more room for each to grow bigger. Try to pick one with flowing leaves for shade and cover, one with emerging vertical stems, and one with plenty of leaves under the water to oxygenate the water and provide habitat below the surface.

Here are some details of the native plants we have used:

Mare’s Tail, also known as bottle brush (Hippuris vulgaris) – evergreen and a good oxygenator. Can be planted at a range of depths in the pond.

Bog bean (Menyanthes trifoliata) – a shallow water marginal pond plant with starry white flowers in May and June. Cut back after flowering.

Lesser spearwort (Ranunculus flammula) - features spear-shaped leaves and pretty yellow flowers in summer. It can cause skin irritation, so wear gloves when handling.

Yellow flag iris (Iris pseudacorus) – an iconic yellow-flowered wetland plant great for damselfly and dragonfly nymphs to climb out from the pond onto, just before they transform into their adult form. Grows vigorously, so keep in the basket and be prepared to thin back when it gets established. Wear gloves to handle.

Common rush (Juncus effusus) – clumps of bright green vertical flowering stems with brown flowers.

Common water-plantain (Alisma plantago-aquatica) – has delicate pinkish white flowers, which tower above the leafy foliage.

Water Mint (Mentha aquatica) – aromatic minty leaves and nectar and pollen rich lilac flowers make this an appealing addition to a pond for humans and wildlife. Spreads easily, so cut back after flowering.

Water forget-me-not (Myosotis palustris) – sprays of small sky-blue flowers with yellow centres draw the eye above water but below the surface, newts may use the leave to wrap their eggs in!

Native water Lilly (Nyphaea alba) – floating leaves are the perfect landing and drinking places for insects such as bees, a great spot for a frog, and they shade the water beneath, discouraging algae bloom.

[mb]

What a masterclass! A lot of thoughtful considerations presented here. Thank you

[takamatsuiki]

Two ideas about mosquitoes (for USA folks):
1) get a solar-powered water pump to create movement in the water (you could even fashion it as a tiny waterfall over the rocks) and this should generally prohibit the mosquitoes from being able to lay eggs. This will alter the ecosystem of the pond, so you'll have a different kind of habitat and different creatures drawn to it than if it were still water.
2) I have heard that some people keep small fish in such ponds, and I suppose if you have both fish and amphibians coming around, it should pretty much control the mosquito population. Maybe someone here knows what kinds of fish would be appropriate for a tiny pond? I don't know.

However you do it, look to what nature does itself in ponds or streams, and think about your pond as a mini ecosystem that should self-manage as nature does.

Now, the only issue with all of this of course, is that some municipalities in the USA make it illegal both to keep standing water or to collect rain water.
Those laws need to be updated!

[evecampbell]

Thank you! I’m going to do this for the wildlife. I love to hear the frogs and toads in the summer!

[meadow-maker]

great video and you covered all the points. I've got quite a few pond pots and bigger pond. The frogs and toads use both but the newts only use the pond. I never get frog spawn but I'm quite happy about that. I'd have trouble going into the garden with a carpet of little frog and toadlets. I remember when I dug my big pond. I had dragon flies laying eggs before I'd even finished. I tried to remember the turves they'd laid on and put those at the side of the pond. My neighbours got a big pond too but there's still always a queue of blackbirds in winter to use my pond. I really mean a queue of them too. They really do take their turn. Looks great with the sun behind.

[moodygirl]

Thanks for all this good information. I'm going to attempt to do something like this with my clawfoot bathtub that I've put against the house between two fig trees. Wish me luck.

[scantrahan]

Fantastic and inspiring video; I'm putting a barrel pond on my balcony for all the birds and bees that enjoy the flowers in our apartment garden

[Me-eiyd]

TIP: Place this is a shady or paritally shady location if you are in zone 7 or more. It'll become a bathtub in the summer if not (cooking all occupants)

[rebeccahenderson]

Excellent vid to encourage people to help wildlife in any way that can! It's up to each and everyone of us to do all we can.

[GardeningandMyDailyLife]

Khu vườn của bạn thật nhiều bóng mát 👍👍👍.

[fabled-pilgrim]

Beautiful project, very concise, all in under 10 minutes ... the perfect video for beginners like myself. 😊

[lizzyanthus]

I love your little wildlife pond! And what a gorgeous and serene setting you have found to place it in. I've subscribed. 😁 Thank you so much for this one!

[henrypeacock]

Thinking of something for my nature loving girlfriend's birthday. Perfect idea! Thanks for the advice. Great video

[margaretpearson]

Thank you that’s the best advice ever on a wildlife pond

[JamesRattray]

Just what I was looking for as we embark on wilding our garden for nature. We need to put water in to the garden for wildlife, this will be our first water, later we plan to create a larger water area or mini wetland, may be later this year by the time we get to create it.
My only comment on your excellent video is, would it also be an idea for a ramp from the pond water to the edge. Water levels can drop and possibly wildlife can be trapped, unable to haul themselves out. Having said that they might be able to do this from the plants in the tub. I know you will do a daily check of water levels, I am not sure if I would trust myself to be so diligent.
Thank you for an excellent video, keep them coming.

[kamalani]

We are prone to mosquitoes here in Hawai’i. I’d need to move the water and have guppies to eat the larvae.

[georgeobrientheroninrealto]

You are a Real natural at making these videos...great job,

[irvingg]

Pretty cool. I’ve been looking for a small project like this to do with my mom. Thanks!

[interestingtidbits]

Excellent ideas. I didn't really want to be digging, etc. Thank you!

[WildWoodlandsSW]

Makes a great little pond. I've already got a couple of ponds, but this will be great for a smaller 'satellite' pond closeby, for viewing. Thankyou, look forward to more.

[Jon.Alexander]

Great looking barrel - thanks for the video!