For those of you who wish to use fewer and less toxic pesticides in the garden, you should attract toads to your garden. A single adult toad can eat 10,000 insect pests in a single summer. Toads eat most insects, including slugs, gypsy moths, and earwigs. In the United States, we have 21 different species of toads. The most common ones are the American toad, western toad, Fowler’s toad, Woodhouse’s toad, and the southern toad. Many toads are declining in numbers, so they need all the help they can get.
Land Dwellers
Toads are different from frogs in that they live mostly on land. They do need moisture but find it near places such as gutter downspouts, air-conditioner drips, or in low spots that collect water. They lay their eggs in water, but otherwise stay on land most of the time.
Toad Habitat
Toads like water features without fish in them. Putting a small pond in your garden can attract them. Even a saucer of water will help them.
Toad Houses
What does a toad house look like? It can be as simple as a pot half buried on its side in a cool damp spot. You can also buy (expensive) toad houses for your yard. Make sure the house does not have a floor, as toads like to dig a bit and make a comfortable spot in the dirt to lie on. Place the house near wet spots in the shade.
No Pesticides
Toads are sensitive to pesticides, so if you want a toad in your garden, you need to avoid pesticides and lawn chemicals. With a few toads in your garden, you have less pests and so need fewer chemicals anyway.
Be Patient
It may take a while for a toad to find your house. It might even take a couple of years. However, if you make a good habitat for toads, they will eventually come. Do not buy a toad, or try to catch one and relocate it. That will not work and you could introduce an invasive pest into the environment.
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In order to help others garden successfully, I have written a book, Vegetable Gardening from the Ground Up, available in an ebook or a paperback from Amazon. It is also in Kindle Unlimited.
