The soil is crucial to life on our planet. It takes 1,000 years to build up just three centimeters of top soil, which is why it is so vitally important that we all begin to take better care of the soil we have. Earthworms improve overall soil qualityĬlean water is absolutely essential for growing nutritious crops in your backyard garden, but have you ever considered how valuable your soil is? A little appreciation for their industrious efforts goes a long way too. So, if you don’t have a fond affection for them in this present moment, perhaps you can learn to love them in time. Not everyone likes the way earthworms look, feel or squiggle, yet they are very important for the health of your soil, which ultimately affects your garden harvests. They will absolutely not stand for “dirty” soil, neither will your garden crops.Īnd if what you really desire is an abundant harvest, you will want to attract all the earthworms you can get! Why attract earthworms to your garden? When in doubt about the toxicity of your soil, get a soil test done to rule a few of these earthworm detractors out. Be sure to cover it with some mulch and let it sit for a few days before inspecting it for earthworm activity. If you aren’t finding any in the upper soil surface, try burying an organic banana peel six inches under the ground. Sometimes it happens that predators are causing the earthworms to decline in numbers. Earthworms need to stay moist (but not wet) for ultimate survival. It may also be that they are deeper in the soil than you would assume. or even toxic! (oil spills, chemicals, weedkillers and insecticides can all trigger a depopulation).the soil has been rototilled one too many times.not enough moisture in the ground, or the soil is too sandy.there is little organic matter for them to consume.If you aren’t finding any worms in your garden soil, it can mean one of several things: Though you may have to release some from your overactive worm bin from time to time. Not that you can have too many in the soil. The absence of earthworms is definitely more of a conundrum than having “too many”. Perhaps an even bigger question to ask about earthworms, is where are they if they aren’t in my garden? If you find few to no earthworms in your soil, you should begin to ask why. If you have already experienced the benefits of no-dig gardening, it will come as no surprise to you that the quality of your soil improves the less you work with it. As the soil stays intact, you do nature a huge favor by preserving (and not disturbing) an entire ecosystem that you cannot see. Worm castings are a brilliant source of fertilizer.Įarthworms also increase the amount of air and water that gets down deep into the soil, via their tunnels and trails.Īt the same time, earthworms take essential organic matter with them from the top, mixing it further below – all without turning the soil. They break down organic matter, leaving behind worm castings that are an extremely valuable fertilizer. It might be better to ask: “What is the purpose of earthworms?” Naturally, this has a better ring to it.Įarthworms are in fact, a significant factor in making the soil, soil. To the last question I honestly have to ask, “Seriously?!” Of course earthworms have a purpose.Įvery living and non-living thing has an essential place in the greater environment – good and “not-so-good-for-us” combined. Why would you want earthworms in your garden? When you type your query with nimble and curious fingers into a search bar: “why attract earthworms”, what comes up?
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