This unobtrusive nocturnal hunter can clear beds of slugs in a few hours better than any chemical product. And besides, she enjoys it.
A princess with a penchant for snails
Most people recoil at the sight of her or look for a broom to “see” her over the fence. Just so the dog wouldn’t find her. That would be it!
A toad while not an ugly monster, but probably the most powerful helper you can have in your garden. If you have uncontrollable starts in your flower beds this year, the toad is exactly the ally you need.
Experts and the experience of gardeners agree on one thing. An adult frog can collect in a single night dozens, sometimes even hundreds pests. What’s more, unlike us, she quite enjoys it.
The common toad is a bit of a loner. You hardly see her during the day. It sits somewhere cool under leaves, in a pile of stones or under an old trunk. Her time comes at dusk, exactly at the moment when even slugs come out of their hiding places.
-
Snail specialist: While other animals tend to avoid slimy molluscs, toads don’t mind. It has a long, sticky tongue that it uses to attack with lightning speed and incredible precision.
-
No princess, but a toiler: It can consume an incredible amount of insects, ants, pigs and also the hated Spanish slugs, which we often don’t know how to deal with.
There is also the following post about frogs and toads from the YouTube channel Zviřecí rekordmani.
Why do you want a toad in your garden?
There are a lot of myths surrounding toads that unnecessarily tarnish their reputation. Here are some facts that might put your mind at ease:
- Warts do not transmit: The old story about touching a frog and getting warts is just nonsense. Her skin may be bumpy, but that’s just her natural appearance.
- Mild poison as protection: The toad has poison glands behind its eyes. These are used exclusively to prevent the dog or cat from eating it. If you touch the toad and don’t rub your eyes or mouth, nothing will happen, but it’s best to leave it alone.
- Loyalty to place: If a toad takes up residence with you and finds enough food, it will remain loyal to you for years. It is basically a free and eco-friendly extermination service.
How to keep it in the garden?
A toad doesn’t need any luxury to want to stay with you. A little peace and “mess” is enough for her.
- Shelters: Leave a pile of old wood, a few larger stones or a piece of an upturned flower pot in a corner of the garden. The toad loves shade and moisture.
- Water: You don’t have to have a big one right away, a shallow bowl with water sunk into the ground, where it can cool down on hot days, is enough.
- Without chemicals: That is the most important point. If you sprinkle granules containing metaldehyde on snails, you will also poison a toad or other animals that consume such a snail. It is for this reason that similar preparations are banned in many countries and replaced by safer preparations that .
