Do a little dance or let loose a little scream.

There are so many toads right now, it’s hard to avoid their antics. They dig into the mulch or hide under rocks to escape the heat of the day then spring into action when you least expect it.

Although they may be annoying, scattering when we enter the garden area, toads provide natural pest control. They feast on insects, slugs and snails and, if you’re counting, a single toad will eradicate up to 10,000 pests during the summer season.

If you’re not a fan of rodents and snakes, larger toads will take on these, too, as toads are not finicky eaters. If it’s something they can fit into their mouth and swallow, it’s fair game in the toad hunting guidebook.

Like most species, toads thrive in a healthy, clean environment. This may sound funny, but when it comes to gardening, a clean environment is typically free from pesticides and chemical fertilizers. Too much of these environmental toxins and the toads will disappear, as their skin quickly absorbs pollutants.

The biggest problem we have with toads is how much our Garden Guardians (a.k.a. Italian Greyhounds) enjoy “playing” with them. If they spy a toad, it’s an endless game of toad chasing. Fortunately, the allure of the toad as an ingestible treat is thwarted by the toad’s natural defense mechanism. Only a couple times has one of the greys ended up with a head shake and frothy mouth at the end of the frequent toad games.

The moral of the story? Find a way to live with the toads. They are harmless to you and the cheapest laborers you’ll find in your battle against garden pests.

“I cannot remember any of the things that were on my list of things to do. I will just have to sit here and do nothing, said Toad.” — Arnold Lobel, American Author, Frog and Toad Together

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Do you have gardening questions? Ask our experts in the comments section below. They’d love to share their knowledge with you!