Earthworms, Good or Bad?

There is a reason that earthworms are referred to as the ‘earth’s original gardener’. Infestations of earthworms reduce the requirement for outside chemicals and fertilizers. The worms increase the alkaline nature of the soil by emitting calcium carbonate into the soil while ingesting organic material thus increasing the PH level of the soil over an extended period of time.

Earthworms take the air from the soil in through their skin. Tunnels through the soil that enable it to become aerated allow moisture in the form of water, as well as ait to enter the worm’s skin through thin membranes.

It is important to use a fertilizer that is non harmful to earthworms – because earthworms are a vital part of the ecosystem. The worms will rely solely on a diet of grass and other matter from the lawn and will gain nutrients that they require from this. To retain the food lawn clippings could be returned to the lawn.

Earthworms provide an invaluable service to the lawn. Earthworms aerate the soil through the year and merely arise to the surface in September to breed. Worms are valuable to lawns because they process harmful compounds like fungi and bacteria. Earthworms do not feed on healthy plant matter – therefore, the worms are only helpful.

If earthworms are visible in the summer it is a sure sign that the grass is cut too short, or there is matter that hasn’t decomposed. They are often not visible unless there has been a recent rainfall when they come to the surface and seek the moisture from the rain.

Having earthworms that live in the top ten centimetres will allow the soil to become aerated and this helps the soil to retain moisture. Moisture is one of the keys to successful soil. The aeration enables oxygen to enter the soil and creates a healthier foundation for the grass to grow from.

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are only some of the ingredients that the earthworms create. It is not a coincidence that these are the same ingredients that are found in fertilizers. Earthworms ‘eat’ fungi, bacteria and other matter than turn it into compounds that the lawn requires. It is important to remember that the earthworms are a part of the healthy ecosystem of our lawns.

Worms thrive when there are grass clippings on the lawn – therefore, removing the grass clippings could remove the words. This is a feeding source for the earthworms and encourages the worms to stay where the food is.

Earthworms could create a patchy, rough or bumpy lawn. This is due to the tunnels that are being created under the earth. It is important to re-seed and water any bumpy patches that may appear in the lawn. Aerating the lawn will decrease the gravity of the lumps as well as raking and verticutting.

It is important to use the above techniques and not heavy roll the lawn. Heavy rolling the lawn will compact the soil and damage – this will permanently damage the lawn by thinning the layer of grass and compacting it so it is unable to grow.

Earthworms take the soil from the surface and pull it into the earth to decompose. This brings nutrients to the soil while allowing the soil and makes it easier to move. Earthworms habituate the top ten centimetres of the soil but if the soil is dry the earthworms will burrow deeper into the soil. In this sense, earthworms provide us with a measure of the quality of the soil that is closest to our lawn. If the earthworms are near the surface this is an indication that the soil near the surface is of adequate quality.

Earthworms are more than the original gardener. They are a measure of the quality of the soil, and decomposers. Earthworms are good – for the lawn and for the earth.

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