As a special request from Humble Acres Nursery I have started designing and making toad houses. I have read up on what toads need and what the ideal habitat would be for them. Toads love shady, cool, and well-protected places to hang their hats. They like to burrow down in the dirt so having a bottomless home is best. Toads seek respite during the day from the hot, dry sun and cold, windy nights which means the house needs a roof, entrance, and has to be big enough for them to maintain a comfortable temperature. Many houses are made strictly for ornamentation in the garden and are not large enough for a toad to even fit through the doorway! I want my toad houses to be used. The openings on these houses are approximately 4 inches wide, are 6-10 inches high, and have a diameter between 10-14 inches. Clay is the perfect material because it retains moisture in the soil underneath and is extremely durable. The glazes make the house weather-tight and add a bright cheeriness to them.
Why would you want a toad hanging around your place? First of all, toads are cute and funny to look at. For me that's enough, but they also consume thousands of insects and garden pests each summer. Instead of chemicals to kill the cucumber beetles in my vegetable garden, I plan on attracting all the toads in the neighborhood my way. The toad is gift in any yard, and those that have provided an attractive habitat for them will likely be awarded.
Yesterday my son found a toad in the backyard. We put him to the test in my new houses and watched him beam with pride! I was surprised how well he blended into the wood chips. I hope he decides to stay, and that he is the envy of all his friends, having been set up with the coolest abode this side of the tracks.
