Worms

[MarkF48]

Had a bit of a steady rain the other night that left the driveway wet. On my walk out to grab the morning paper I didn't see any worms that usually meander onto the driveway and thinking more about it I hadn't seen many when I tilled the garden earlier this Spring. The soil on my property isn't the richest, but used to have a fair amount worms if I dug up a couple spades of dirt in the garden. Kinda wondering if the change in climate or other factors might be diminishing the worm population. I've thought about buying some online to replenish the garden, but don't know if it's worth it.

 

[OldMcDonald]

Almost impossible that any climate change effect you have experienced would have killed off the worms, considering that they are in all soils in most of the world. Rotary tillers kill worms. Smash them into little pieces. May not be the problem of course. Any idea whether you still have as much organic matter in your soil as you used to have? Doubtful if you need to buy in worms, there should be some left. I once bought a farm and could not find any worms anywhere on it. A year later they began to appear when digging in the newly created vegetable garden. Lots of animal manure had been used in its establishment. The New Zealand flat worm eats other worms, but no idea if you have them in Massachusetts, and you would probably have seen some of them anyway. Try creating a favourable habitat in one small area - composted vegetables, FYM (buy a bag if need be) and other organic material. You do not need a big area, a couple of square feet will do it. Keep it moist, but not wet, and dig it over with a fork every few days. If you have worms around about you should start to see them in two or three weeks. Just thoughts.

 

[Jstpssng]

Consider yourself fortunate that you no longer harbor an invasive species.America, Found and Lost - National Geographic - May 2007

(Exit sarcasm font. )

 

[MossRoad]

Had a bit of a steady rain the other night that left the driveway wet. On my walk out to grab the morning paper I didn't see any worms that usually meander onto the driveway and thinking more about it I hadn't seen many when I tilled the garden earlier this Spring. The soil on my property isn't the richest, but used to have a fair amount worms if I dug up a couple spades of dirt in the garden. Kinda wondering if the change in climate or other factors might be diminishing the worm population. I've thought about buying some online to replenish the garden, but don't know if it's worth it.

Do you use any insecticide, grub killer, weed killer or fertilizer on your lawn? Or have you had lots and lots of rain lately? Couple things that can happen. Chemicals can chase them away, drive them deeper, or kill them. Excessive rain can drown them.

 

[MarkF48]

Do you use any insecticide, grub killer, weed killer or fertilizer on your lawn? Or have you had lots and lots of rain lately? Couple things that can happen. Chemicals can chase them away, drive them deeper, or kill them. Excessive rain can drown them.

Straight fertilizer in low quantities, no weed or grub killer/insecticide. Have had a fair amount of rain lately, but in the Spring when I tilled the garden was about average.

 

[MossRoad]

Some years we have tons. Not too many the past few years. Rarely see them on our driveway anymore.

 

[MoKelly]

I agree with your observation --- although I hadn't thought about it until your post.

Maybe the comment about too much rain drowning them is correct --- we had all time record rainfall in June this year.

MoKelly

 

[KennyG]

Seems like they come and go. Generally, in our sandy soil I don't see as many as I would like, but this year (which has been very wet and cool) I find them everytime I turn a spade over. Who knows?