These pleasant creatures are actually brilliant for your lawns health!
Got worms? In your lawn that is. Earthworms to be more specific. These pleasant creatures are actually brilliant for your lawns health and they are busily working away beneath the surface. If earthworms are present in your soil, it means you have healthy soil that contains a good amount of organic material, so there is no reason to worry about them. If anything, you should be more worried if they are not present, as this will likely mean that your soil is lacking in nutrients and a good amount of organic matter.
Earthworm benefits
- Aeration of your soil
- Breaking down of thatch
- Increased decomposition
- Creation of usable nitrogen in the soil
Why would earthworms be considered a problem for your lawn?
Well the main reason you tend to notice that there are worms in your lawn is when they come up to the surface. During Spring and again in Autumn, or times of increased moisture, earthworms will rise to the surface and start leaving castings also known as mud balls. Castings are small mounds of worm excrement or digested organic matter, which is beneficial for your lawn. The only issue here is the appearance of these castings on top of your lawn, particularly if there are heaps of them.
What you can do about earthworm castings
- When the castings are dry, you can rake them across the lawn. Much like an organic fertiliser this will then settle the castings into the roots and provide nutrition for your lawn.
- As worm activity is a sign of higher moisture levels, you can limit the amount of water your lawn is receiving to try and lessen their activity. When you do this, the worms will delve deeper into the soil in search of moisture.
- Mow your lawn a touch higher to lessen the appearance of castings in your lawn.
So next time you see these little mounds in your lawn, give yourself a pat on the back, reduce their appearance and enjoy the benefits they are providing to your soil and your lawn.
