Perhaps this questions is a bit left-field, but here it goes: would it be possible (or even ethical) to introduce native toads to my roof garden? I live on the third story of an apartment building in Baltimore which has a fairly large (15 X 15) roof area that I have converted into a jam packed cottage-style container garden. Slugs attack my hostas every year, so I wish for toads that would eat them (plus I just generally find them cute and entertaining.) The chances of toads naturally being attracted to/ finding their way on to my roof are slim, so I wonder if it would be ethical to either purchase a native species of toad or try to find some in a local forest and introduce them to my roof garden. If I buy/find several and provide the proper habitat, is it likely they will be able to successfully overwinter? In addition to the slugs that plague my hostas, there are plenty of earthworms and other bugs in the large whiskey-barrel size containers that the toads could eat. I even have a small 'pond' constructed. Thoughts?

I caught your question on a different thread. I suggested maybe trying to use small slug eating snakes instead. (Red Bellied Snakes would be ideal). There are a lot of practical issues with that option, namely local laws and your feelings about snakes.

OtherUncleWill said:I caught your question on a different thread. I suggested maybe trying to use small slug eating snakes instead. (Red Bellied Snakes would be ideal). There are a lot of practical issues with that option, namely local laws and your feelings about snakes.

Hi OtherUncleWill,

I like snakes a lot, too, as long as they are not poisonous. I used to pay with harmless green garden snakes at my home in CT when I was a kid. I wonder if the snakes would be able to overwinter successfully in my roof garden. It's an interesting idea. I will look into this.

Best,

Holly

They're completely harmless and aren't much bigger than a large earth worm. (They're seldom more than 9" long)
http://herpsofnc.org/red-belli...

I personally think if you can protect them from predators and nobody else in your building minds, this would be a genius idea and they might thrive as long as there is enough food.

Did you add any critters to your garden? I think that's a big enough area for toads, just research overwintering... I think some toads just need a pile of leaf litter, and it seems like the roof of a building should be at least as warm to huddle near as frozen ground.

I think birds might be the best wildlife to attract, with a birdbath. While there for that, they'll look around for tasty morsels like slugs and moths. There are inexpensive little solar water pumps that can allow you to create a wide variety of bird baths & fountains.

Lining the drain holes of pots with window screen can also help keep pests like slugs and snails from getting into the soil. Mixing some diatomaceous earth into the soil, or sprinkling it on top & watering it in could help.