Everybody these days is switching over to no-dig gardening, rather than stab earthworms (and stag beetles) to death with your garden fork or spade.
If you live with animal friends, learn how to make your garden safe for pets (no-dig gardening uses mulch so avoid cocoa – and keep fresh compost away, as it contains mould).
Although the world has many species of worm, the average English garden has just 16. Some live in topsoil, but most burrow underground. And you’ll only see them after it rains, when they come up (you’ve likely seen seagulls do ‘tap dances’, tricking worms into coming above ground, to receive a tasty lunch).
Earthworms are some of the most important species on earth, as they eat dead and decaying matter, and also form an important part of the food chain – food for birds, amphibians, hedgehogs, foxes and especially moles (who spend most days and nights doing a ‘breaststroke’ with their giant claws to sweep through earth to find worms to feast on, taking extras back to their den). For more info, visit Earthworm Society of Britain.
Worms have no ears, eyes or teeth (like snakes, they ‘hear’ through vibrations) and can live a few years (they have both male and female sex organs). Other threats beside predators are garden chemicals and freak weather.
Ensure pets don’t eat earthworms. If ingested, puppies especially are at risk of roundworms (eggs). Symptoms are spaghetti-like worms in stools. Call your vet immediately.
How do Earthworms Help Your Garden?
As they eat decaying matter, earthworms make ‘casts’ that cement soil together to increase sulphur and nitrogen, which helps plants grow, by retaining water. Although they look ‘slimy’, the bodies of earthworms are actually covered with tiny hairs, which they use to burrow through soil.
Earthworms also help to prevent floods, as good soil is one of the mainstays of helping the earth to soak up excessive rain.
Life is hard. Then you die. Then they throw dirt in your face. Then the worms eat you. Be grateful it happens in that order. David Gerrold
The Role of Earthworms in Soil Health
Have you ever wondered how roots manage to breathe underground? It’s all thanks to the tunnelling magic of earthworms. As they burrow, these critters create networks of tiny holes, letting air circulate in the soil. Oxygen reaches plant roots, promoting healthy growth that transforms gardens into green havens.
Earthworms are like recycling machines for your garden. They munch on decomposing leaves and organic matter, breaking it down into rich humus. This process releases essential nutrients back into the soil, making them readily available for plants. It’s a natural, efficient way to deliver nutrition straight to your garden beds.
Maintaining the right pH balance is vital for vigorous plant growth. Earthworms have a knack for this too. By processing organic material, they help stabilise the soil’s pH, keeping it within the sweet spot needed for your plants to thrive. This balance avoids the need for harsh additives and keeps your soil healthy.
Earthworms as Natural Pest Controllers
Earthworms attract a host of predators that feast on garden pests. Birds, beetles, and centipedes see earthworms as part of their diet, and in turn, they help control unwanted insect populations. It’s a beneficial cycle that keeps pests under control, saving your plants from damage.
Beyond physical defence, earthworms boost the health of the soil’s microbiome. Their movement and digestion distribute beneficial microbes throughout the soil, enhancing its natural defences against plant pathogens. This enriched soil environment makes it harder for pests to thrive, protecting your garden from the ground up.
How to Attract Earthworms to Your Garden
Garden organically (take all your pesticides and weedkillers to the tip, or bin securely). Along with your garden forks and spades, and buy a good no-dig organic gardening book instead. Add organic matter and leaf litter to soil, avoiding low-calcium acidic soil and copper.
Try not to walk on the soil (especially after heavy rain). If you find a worm in waterlogged soil, gently move it to an earthy area to burrow underground. If you find a worm in the sun, move to a shady spot and sprinkle some cool water from a watering can, to help the worm hydrate before it returns to its underground home.
Don’t buy peat compost, as this is home to worms and many endangered creatures. If you find worms in your compost bin, gently place them back on top of the heap or somewhere safe (most are on top anyway, munching newly-deposited food). Avoid ‘hot composters’ or ‘food digestors’ as these get way too hot for wildlife (and some don’t even have soil, so ‘cook’ creatures like worms).
Leave clippings on the lawn, as worms will return them to the soil for you. If you find worms on the grass, pop them in soil beds, to avoid them dehydrating.
It’s not true that worms cut in two survive. Occasionally a missing ‘tail’ is not fatal. But most organs are near the saddle (head). If you find a worm that is almost fatally injured, a quick ”worm euthanasia’ with your foot may be more humane, then letting dying worms thrash about for hours.
Avoid worm composting, unless you know what you’re doing. These use different ‘red wriggler’ worms that often die when transferred to soil (or if lost in the post). Just garden organically, and earthworms will naturally find you!
One surefire way to draw earthworms is by setting up a compost-friendly environment. Use organic compost to provide a steady food source for worms. This attracts them in droves, eager to turn your waste into nourishing soil. Your kitchen scraps will find a new life, fuelling both worms and plants.
Chemical treatments can be harmful to earthworms. By steering clear of pesticides, you protect these helpful creatures. Instead, opt for organic gardening methods and safe natural humane slug/snail control. Strengthening your garden’s ecosystem ensures a safe home for earthworms, allowing them to continue their vital work.
Books to Learn More About Earthworms
The Book of the Earthworm is by Yorkshire writer Sally Coulthard. This is the guide to the ‘little engineers of the earth’, without whom our gardens would be barren. Learn more about the world’s most industrious (but little understood) creature.
The Earth Moved is a wonderful book about the remarkable achievements of earthworms by a scientist, who takes us underground to meet the amazing creatures who plough the soil, fight plant disease, clean up pollution and turn ordinary dirt into fertile land. This witty offbeat book talks to those who have devoted their lives to unearthing the complex life beneath our feet.
They are near the bottom of the food chain (a meal for fish and birds) while humans consume an astonishing array of what lies on the planet. But eventually, even we become food for the worms. I am left with the troubling conclusion that the worm’s survival may (in the grand scheme of things) be more important than my own. Amy Stewart
