Attracting toads is the dream of many gardeners. Having toads in the garden is very beneficial as they naturally prey on insects, slugs, and snails-- up to 10,000 in a single summer. Having a resident toad keeps the pest population down and reduces the need for harsh pesticides or labor intensive natural controls. Let's take a look at how to attract toads to your garden.
How to Attract Toads
Attracting toads to your garden mostly involves creating the right kind of habitat for toads. If you keep this in mind, you'll have no problem getting a toad to take up residence. Cover from predators- Toads are a tasty meal for many animals. Snakes, birds, and the occasional house pet will kill and eat toads. Provide plenty of foliage and slightly elevated areas where toads can stay safe. Moist cover- Toads are amphibians. This means that they live on both land and in the water and need moisture to survive. While toads are not as closely tied to the water as frogs, they still need a moist place to live. Toads make homes under boards, porches, loose rocks, and roots of trees. You can provide moist hiding spots for toads to encourage them to stay. You can even turn a desirable place for a toad to live into a garden decoration by making a garden toad house. Eliminate pesticides and chemicals- If you are using pesticides or other chemicals, chances are your garden is too toxic to have toads in the garden. Toads are highly sensitive to chemicals and even small amounts can be damaging to their health. Water- Toads may not live in water, but they need water to reproduce. A small pond or ditch that stays filled with water for at least a significant part of the year will not only help with attracting toads, but will help ensure future generations of toads. Making your garden more toad friendly is all you need to do when looking at how to attract toads. Having a toad in the garden is a natural blessing to a gardener.