OK, so not everyone finds toads attractive. However, a single toad can consume about 110 beetles, slugs, moths, sowbugs, armyworms and other bugs a day. That’s around 3,300 per month! Toads are most active at night when slugs and cutworms are active. During the day, they need a fairly dark, cool place to hide from the sun and predators.

A simple way to welcome one of these homely, but lovable gardener’s friends is to make a toad house. (This is a great project for kids!)

What You’ll Need:

• A medium-sized clay flower pot
• Acrylic paints
• A paint brush
• A trowel or large spoon
• A disposable pie tin or the saucer from the flower pot

What to Do:

• Wash and dry the pot if it has been used.
• Paint leaf and other designs using browns, greens and other earth colors, on the outside of the pot. Don’t forget the bottom.
• When the paint is dry, take it outside to a sheltered spot in your garden among your plants. Lay the pot on its side. Using a trowel or large spoon, bury the pot halfway into the ground. Place some dead leaves in the bottom of the house.
• After a few days, check to see if any of the debris in the house has been moved. Give it some time, but if it seems that no one has moved in, try moving your house to another location.
• Toads drink by sitting in water and soaking it through their skin. Place the pie tin or clay saucer filled with water in a spot near the house, but that is out of view.
• If you want to really pamper your new tenant, put a battery-operated night light near the house. This will attract moths and other yummy snacks.

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