Attract Frogs and Toads to Your Garden

Cute, bug-eyed critters with a bounce in their step, Frogs and Toads are always an unexpected, yet welcomed sight in any setting! These creatures of wonder are valued pest control in the garden!

However this 'indicator species' is sadly threatened and outright endangered worldwide. These creatures are susceptible to environmental changes and are threatened by soil, air, and water pollution, chemicals, and loss of habitat!

So how can you help?

About Frogs and Toads

All Toads are in the Frog family, but not all Frogs are considered Toads. Not all Frogs have smooth slimy skin nor do all Toads have bumpy rough skin. So how can you tell the difference?

Formerly all in the Bufo family classification, herpetologists have broken up them into new classifications.

Over 6,000 strong around the world & 4,000 species of Frogs and Toads
Of the 230 Amphibian species in the continental US, Frogs and Toads make up 90
Baby Toads and Frogs are called tadpoles or pollywogs
When the babies emerge onto land, they are called froglets or toadlets

Toad Facts

Toads generally have drier skin with warty bumps, no teeth, and shorter hind legs
Toads hop or crawl more than actually jump
The Sonoran Desert Toad is the largest US Toad at 8 inches long
The Oak Toad is the smallest at just over an inch

Frog Facts

Frogs can have smooth and slimy skin
Bumpy (sometimes pointed) protrusions that act like teeth
They jump very well!
The Little Grass Frog is the smallest, only 11-19 mm (barely 3/4ths of an inch!)
American Bullfrogs are the largest up to 8 inches in length
Frogs use their eyeballs to help them swallow!

Attracting Frogs and Toads to Your Garden!

These shy creatures are pretty far down the food chain in nature, so providing a place to hide, and providing a water source is key to attracting and keeping them around your yard!

First things first - they NEED water! High moisture areas and pooled water that isn’t stagnant for all kinds of amphibians (including Newts and Salamanders) are essential for the survival of their egg, their young, and some adults!

Installing a water feature in your yard and garden is certainly the best place to start! Be sure you have either gently flowing water or a means of aeration to prevent stagnation. Once you have this, nature will find its way to your garden - no need to worry about food or lures!

Plants attract their favorite food which is in your garden anyway and often 'bugging' you - insects, mosquitoes, slugs, snails, flies, gnats and so much more! A single American Toad can eat dozens to hundreds of insects a night and they are only 3 inches or so long!

Shelter

A slightly messy garden is their favorite haunt! Leaf litter, sticks, and twigs for cover and food foraging mean less work for you too! Toads burrow into muck, sand, and mud to escape the summer heat and hibernate in the winter, so provide an area underground that is easy for them to reach.

Treefrogs are among those Frogs that don’t live their whole life in water! Pick trees with plenty of bark with deep furrows for them to overwinter like Oak, Shag Bark Hickory, Shag Bark Maples, and Sycamore.

Children's Gardens, shady brooks, Rock Gardens, or a Zen garden with a water feature all work incredibly for adult Toads and Frogs. Gaps in large stones for them to hide, and clay/terra cotta pipes (or even PVC piping) angled into the ground for them to burrow into for the winter.

Sample Toad Abode	Sample Frog Pad
Perennial Salvia Columbines Wildflowers Hosta like Rainforest Sunrise Hosta Japanese Toad Lily Dense groundcover plants Water Garden/Fountain Brush piles, piles of rocks & leaf litter Places to hide	Ferns Water Lilies Hosta Duckweed Froggie™ Bigleaf Hydrangea Shrubs & water-loving bushes Dense groundcover plants Water Lettuce (where it's not invasive) A pond that won’t freeze completely Hiding places

Keep a messy compost area in the back corner of your property with large rotting logs or a retaining wall with lots of gaps and spaces for them to take shelter in.

Plus piles of leaves and sticks attract their food and give them further areas to hide under. Called a Hibernacula which is like a little log cabin, with small entrances, and covered in leaves or soil.

Water Source

Any permanent water source works! Ensure the water source is not stagnant and non-chlorinated. Install water garden/moisture-loving plants, and a tree or large shrub to provide cover and shade.

Install a River/brook garden, Rain Garden, water feature, or pond of any size for Frogs and Toad tadpoles. Again leave large gaps between the stones and rocks for cover.

Keep a layer of muck, substrate, or sand in the bottom of the pond for them to burrow into for the winter and to lay their eggs in. Ensure it is 2-3 feet in depth for the eggs and Amphibians to overwinter in without freezing.

If you have a chlorinated pond or pool - be sure to provide a ramp for these creatures to climb out once they do get in.

You don’t even need to have a large water feature, even a bird bath that is low to the ground, a shallow tray filled daily with clean chlorine-free water, and an upside-down terra cotta pot with a hole for them to enter. They love nooks and crannies to forage, take shelter, and sleep in.

Both Frogs and Toads like flat rock or floating water plants to sun themselves on. But also shade to hide from the hot summer sun.

Types Of U.S. Frogs

There are over 30 types of Frogs in the US. Including the largest and most widespread species, the American Bullfrog, which has become a bit invasive in some areas. Many have curious names like Crawfish, Pig, River, Mink, Pickerel, Cascades, and Grass Frogs.

Green Frogs & Bronze Frogs
Spring Peepers
Treefrogs - Gray, Green, Barking, Squirrel, Pacific & Canyon
Coastal Tailed Frogs
Wood Frogs & Pine Wood Frogs
Chorus Frogs & Boreal Chorus Frogs
Cricket Frogs, including Blanchard’s
Northern Red-legged Frog & Foothill Yellow-legged Frog
Northern & Southern, Rio Grande & Plains Leopard Frogs

Types of U.S. Toads

Usually terrestrial until after their tadpole stage, Toads are usually named because of where they live - Western, Great Plains, North American Green, Southern, Colorado River, Gulf Coast Toads, and Spadefoot species like Great Basin, Plains, Mexican, and Eastern Spadefoot.

Fowler’s Toad
Red-Spotted Toad
Oak Toad
Woodhouse’s Toad
Couch’s Spadefoot
Hurter’s Spadefoot
Cane Toads (not the Australian invasive Cane Toad)

Threats For Frogs and Toads

Getting warts from Frogs and Toads is just a myth! But having thin skin that’s in direct contact with water is an amphibian's greatest adaptation - and their greatest weakness.

Requiring water to breathe and lay their eggs and tadpoles, but it’s also their largest drawback, allowing chemicals, pollution, fungus, and disease directly into their systems. Plus, habitat loss, chemical use/overuse, invasive species competition (including exotic pets that escape), pollution, and climate change wreaking havoc on amphibian populations.

Chytrid Fungus

However, there is one problem that is decimating amphibian populations around the world - The Chytrid Fungus.

Chytridiomycosis, or Chytrid, is a fungus that affects the keratin in amphibians' skin and nervous system. It affects their ability to regulate moisture, and causes their skin to dry out - their single essential requirement for survival.

Starting as a localized problem, scientists studying African and South American amphibian species were inadvertently tracking the fungus from site to site on their gear and boots! It’s now a worldwide problem.

How to Help

Clean fishing gear, boating & water sports gear between sites
Avoid handling them if possible - Keep hands free of insect repellent, lotions & oils
Donate to help protect wetlands in your area
Join a BioBlitz & go amphibian hunting to test for Chytrid Fungus
Learn how to stop the spread of Chytrid
Use fewer chemicals on your plants & lawn - or go organic
Reduce what goes into the water cycle & down sewer drains
Help control invasive species that compete with native flora & fauna
Join clean-up events at local watering holes, fishing sites, or other bodies of water
Spread awareness!

Hopping Garden Visitors!

Carve out a small area of your landscape and you will reap the rewards! Flocks of birds, pollinators, beneficial insects, and amphibians too! Fill your twilight hours with croaks and chirps and also notice fewer pests ‘bugging’ you!

Enjoy seeing these shy creatures with a skip in their step around your landscape! Nature Hills is here to help you draw all the unique wildlife in your area and help you give them a home right in your own backyard!

Happy Planting!

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I attract frogs and toads to my garden?

Frogs and toads need two things above all else: water and shelter. Install a pond or water feature with gentle water movement or aeration to prevent stagnation, as still, oxygen-poor water is unsuitable for their eggs and young. Dense plantings, ground cover, and leaf litter around the water's edge will provide the hiding spots these shy, predator-wary creatures require. Once you have water and cover in place, the insects they feed on will naturally draw them in, so avoid pesticides and let nature do the rest.

What plants should I grow to attract frogs and toads?

While no specific plants are required to attract frogs and toads, the key is creating a habitat they find welcoming. Dense, low-growing plants like hostas, ferns, and native groundcovers provide the shady, moist hiding spots these shy creatures need to feel safe. Native plants are especially valuable because they naturally support the insects, slugs, and mosquitoes that frogs and toads feed on. Focus first on installing a water feature with gentle aeration, then surround it with layered plantings that offer both ground-level cover and moisture retention.

How do I attract tree frogs specifically to my yard?

Tree frogs are drawn to the same essentials as other amphibians, but they especially favor vertical habitat like shrubs, tall grasses, and trees near a water source since they spend much of their lives off the ground. Install a small pond or water feature with gentle aeration to prevent stagnation, and surround it with dense, layered plantings that provide both humidity and shelter. Avoid pesticides entirely, as tree frogs absorb chemicals directly through their permeable skin. Focus on creating a pesticide-free yard with a reliable water feature and native plants, and tree frogs will naturally find their way to your garden.

Do toads and frogs need a water source in the garden?

Yes, frogs and toads absolutely require a water source to survive and thrive in your garden. Water is essential for their eggs, tadpoles, and many adult amphibians, making it the single most important factor in attracting them. Install a pond, rain garden, or other water feature that offers gently flowing water or aeration to prevent stagnant conditions. Once a reliable water source is in place, frogs and toads will naturally find their way to your yard without any additional lures or food sources needed.

How much water do toads need to thrive in a garden habitat?

Toads and frogs require consistent access to fresh, non-stagnant water to survive and reproduce, as moisture is essential for their eggs, tadpoles, and adult skin health. Even a small garden pond or water feature of just a few gallons can make a significant difference, provided the water stays aerated and clean. Add a small pump or fountain to keep water gently circulating, and place the feature near shade and dense plantings so toads have the shelter and humidity they need to thrive.

What kind of shelter do frogs and toads need in a garden?

Frogs and toads are shy creatures that sit low on the food chain, so they rely heavily on dense cover to feel safe and stay put in your garden. They seek out moist, shaded hiding spots such as log piles, rock clusters, overturned clay pots, thick ground cover plantings, and leaf litter. To make your garden frog-friendly, place a few flat rocks or a simple toad house in a shaded, damp corner of your yard, and leave some natural debris like leaves and small logs undisturbed to give them reliable refuge year-round.

Do frogs and toads prefer sun or shade in the garden?

Frogs and toads strongly prefer shaded, moist areas in the garden since they are highly susceptible to drying out and tend to avoid direct sun exposure. As shy creatures low on the food chain, they seek out dense plantings, leaf litter, rocks, and logs that offer cool, dark hiding spots throughout the day. To attract them, focus on creating shaded refuges near your water feature using layered plantings, ground covers, and natural debris piles that retain moisture and provide cover from predators.

How can I make my yard a safe environment for frogs and toads?

Frogs and toads need two things above all else: clean water and places to hide. Install a pond or water feature with gentle circulation or aeration to prevent stagnation, as still, polluted water is harmful to amphibians at every life stage. Avoid pesticides and chemicals in your garden, since frogs and toads are highly sensitive to soil, air, and water pollution. Add dense plantings, flat rocks, and ground-level shelter around your water feature to give these shy creatures the cover they need to thrive.

Should I add a pond or water feature to attract frogs and toads?

Yes, adding a pond or water feature is the single most effective step you can take to attract frogs and toads to your garden. These amphibians depend on water for laying eggs, developing tadpoles, and keeping their skin moist, so without a reliable water source they simply will not stay. Make sure the water is gently flowing or has an aerator installed, as stagnant water will not support a healthy frog and toad population. Start with even a small, shallow water feature and let nature do the rest, as insects and other food sources are likely already present in your garden.

What can I plant to encourage tree frogs to visit my garden?

Tree frogs are drawn to dense, layered plantings that offer both shelter and hunting grounds near a water source. Native shrubs, ornamental grasses, and broad-leaved plants like hostas provide the cool, moist hiding spots tree frogs prefer during the day. Focus on plants that naturally attract insects, such as native wildflowers and flowering shrubs, since frogs need no additional feeding once their prey is present. Start by installing a small pond or water feature with gentle aeration, then layer native plantings around it to create the shaded, humid microhabitat tree frogs seek out.