Toads will move into habitats that provide them with shelter, food, and a source of water. If those items are there they will come, but only if their needs are met.

This might sound a little wacky... But have you thought about making a small ramp for the toads?

I want them so badly that nothing sounds wacky to me! I'll try it. Thanks for the idea...I wonder what I could put on the ramp to attract them up to the beds...

I want them so badly that nothing sounds wacky to me! I'll try it. Thanks for the idea...I wonder what I could put on the ramp to attract them up to the beds...

You will have to bring them in. They will never scale 2 ft. Place them in the shadiest, northernmost part of the bed, with a 90% buried shelter which you will water often.

I have seen toads hop up 2 and 3 feet with no problem. Create and environment they need and like (with adequate food, water, and shelter) and they will come.

what kind of shelter do toads like?

how do they know they need to jump 2 ft? They will know if they are put in, like the place, and fall off. at any rate, the standard toad shelter is an upside down small flower pot, partially buried, with a side hole.

Toads shelters need to be something that provides shade and moisture. It could be as simple as a board, a paver, an upturned flower pot, or a fairly expensive toad house.

I dunno if this will help, but my resident toad likes to snooze the day away in the drain spout extension, a damp 4" dia piece of pvc pipe that is itself in afternoon shade.

You might be able to trap one, and then keep such a refuge in your raised bed.

Apparently they can and DO jump up to places that seem attractive to them, as last night I was sitting on the edge of my bed, just communing with my plant guys, close to dusk, and there, two feet away from me, was a rather hefty toad!

We are putting out a home (clay pot, partially buried, in the shade end, with a special hole cut) tomorrow, and a water source that we'll change daily with lake water from the hose. I kept breaking pots to get it right, but Bob finally bought a drill bit last night that should do it when he gets back in town tomorrow.

And I didn't have to go searching for him (or her), which I had no clue how to begin! Oh, was I ecstatic! He was just sitting there, looking at me, and I at him. It was one of those moments you remember forever! And he even stayed a while...it was almost like companionship. Although he might have simply been terrified by me. ;)

Thanks to all for the advice...I like to hear all sides of an idea before I do something. But this time, the toad took charge and I had nothing to do with it! You've gotta love gardening, eh? :D

Good luck to all of you with this year's harvest or blooms. And now to post about my new mortal enemy: roly polies. I'm thinking they're what are making Mr./Ms. Toad so very welcome...

Everyone who knows something about toads has mentioned their need for water, but I would like to add this. Toads, like frogs; actually replenish their bodies each night (and some think it's to clean immune system) by soaking a patch of skin on the bottom part of their belly each evening in clean water. So providing a shallow dish of water where the toads can access it and sit and soak for a while each night will also help to draw them to your garden.

I have a black doggie bag round container sunk about three inches away from the partially buried clay pot with a good sized hole for him/her to get in.

I'll be keeping that corner of the garden bed (shade) watered frequently, and checking the level of water in the little mini-pond.

I haven't seen my friendly toad since that night a while back, so I'm hoping a miracle happens!