Garden Toads Need Water!

The season is now in full bloom. Tomatoes are big, irises tall, roses are fragrant and pesty garden insects are making their presence known. This is when we need and appreciate our garden friendly toads for their remarkable ability to eat and devour these destructive pests. For many, however, garden friendly toads won’t stay in the garden, even with a well-positioned green gardening toad house for shelter. The reason may be simple. Toads need a constant source of water to thrive. And even though the garden gets watered each day, a watery environment for Mr. Toad gets forgotten. That’s why when the first big rain comes along your toads are found way out by the ditch where there’s standing water and not in the garden where he’s in charge of pest control. Point being, when you water your garden, remember that the toads need water, too!

Toads are, in fact, amphibious. They breathe and drink through their skin, and need a watery place to lay their eggs. This is why toads flourish only in moist and damp places where a reliable source of water exists. Whenever its dry for any period of time, your neighbor’s drippy water spigot will be an invitation for your garden toad to migrate next door in search of water! Who knows? The solution to keeping your garden toad working as your natural pest conroller in your green garden is apparent. Just add a constant and steady water source to your garden, like maybe a pond. Yeah!

Now, let’s think ponds. Most of us just aren’t lucky enough to have a neat little spring-fed stream of water trickling through our garden, but we can come close. Preformed shallow ponds are affordable, available, and come in many shapes and sizes. Along with some imagination, these ponds can add an entire new dimension to your garden! By recessing your new pond liner into the ground just a bit, the partially filling it with sand and selected rocks before filling with water, you have created an attractive rock garden and water pond. To keep your pond active, simply add the necessary water each week. Or, a small recirulating pump can allow for a more elaborate setting with moving or even cascading water. It’s all up to you. Large or small ground level fountains are also attractive and work well. Even the top of a birdbath that is nestled into the ground can be easily maintained every few days with a nearby garden hose. Be creative! And, to keep your green garden toads in the garden and on pest control patrol, don’t forget that toads need water, too!