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Earthworms like healthy lawns in Cherokee, GA

Posted by Christine Crandall on Mar 8, 2019 6:14:16 PM

A wormy yard is an indicator that there’s good soil afoot. A common misconception about these slimy wrigglers is that they eat dirt, but they actually eat organic matter present in soil. That means a yard that has a higher amount of nutrients in its soil will probably be extra wormy.

Castings…worm poop

worm-2934958_640Worms eat and digest nutrients, then they expel castings…worm poop. Worm castings look like little mounds of dirt in the yard except they are composed of little, formed balls.

Some people think that castings take away from the beauty of the yard. However, they are actually an indicator of yard health. If you want to get rid of them, turn on the hose, but don’t try to get rid of your worms. The only way you can keep them away is by having a yard that is unhealthy. If you get rid of the worms with a pesticide but take care of your yard, they’ll just keep coming back.

Instead of hating worm castings, love them for the fertilizer that they are. The worm eats the nutrients from the soil, but it digest them into more usable nutrients. Worm castings make some of the best fertilizer because they have minerals and enzymes in high amounts. A very small amount of worm castings can feed plants for months.

The minerals that castings contain are nitrates, phosphorous, calcium, potassium, copper, borax, zinc, iron, carbon, cobalt, and nitrogen. The enzymes and bacteria that the castings have make plants grow quicker. Castings are often placed in vegetable gardens because it is the perfect organic fertilizer.

Since worms are natural composters, some people buy worm bins and put their organic garbage in there for the worms to compost more quickly than normal composting would occur. Worm castings can also be sold to gardeners who wish to have the best natural fertilizer.

If your yard doesn’t have worms, it probably has problems. You can buy worms to improve the health of your yard, but soil amendments are probably the only thing that will keep the worms from leaving. They are not a cure for lawn woes, but they are a positive result that comes from proper yard care.

So, the next time you see a worm casting in your yard, do not despair! It is a good thing! When worms are thriving, grass is thriving. If you don’t see any worms, contact your lawn care professional to get your yard into better shape.

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Topics: lawn care