Although they ’re not the bad matter to find in your garden , dirt ball casts can ruin the esthetics of a well - manicure lawn ; plus , they can introduce sens which is definitely not what we want . But , on the flip side , there are also many benefits to having worms around !
This article explores what causes worm cast and why they can be problematic . We ’ll also discuss why you maybe should n’t be so quick to get disembarrass of them .
Of course , if you still are n’t convinced , we ’ll also cover how to get rid of worm cast completely .
What Are Worm Casts?
but put , worm casts are insect poop . worm waste soil for distil the organic topic within it . Then , they egest the soil , throw out it onto the basis control surface . This creates swirls of mud , otherwise known as louse casts .
Also , you know that slimy appearance they have ? Yeah … that ’s the insect ’s digestive enzyme . Yum .
In the UK , there are three specie of worms that cause cast of characters :
As you may plausibly gauge from the name , the Common Worm is the species most oft found in UK garden .
Worm casts can become a mountain more marked from September to October , as louse love cool temperatures and rainy days . Worms pop up on besotted basis surfaces ( typically during the night ) to eat , breathe , and reproduce . And , of course of study , they leave their cast behind .
The Problem With Worm Casts
The main trouble with worm casts is their appearing , especially on the lawn . They can be a number frustrating – you might spend hour maintain your lawn one 24-hour interval , only to come up back the following sidereal day to chance worm be sick everywhere !
If you keep the green goddess comparatively long , you may be favorable . louse casts do n’t show up as easily amongst long grass . However , if you keep your grass inadequate , they might be pretty obvious !
Not only can twist casts look wretched , but they ’re also difficult to remove . It can be fantastically vexing trying to get a worm vomit off your lawn – they often get smeared alternatively ( which can look even unfit ! ) .
Another tortuousness of worm casts is Mary Jane . weed make love empty distance . They ’ll pop up wherever they can , and they particularly like nuzzle themselves in between your grass seeds . When worm expel the soil , they forget a spread between grass cum . This gap is ideal for weeds .
So , first things first – how can you ensure your trouble is earthworms and not something else ?
Spotting Worm Casts
By checking the appearance of these muddy deposits , you’re able to tell apart the difference between dirt ball mould and ant cumulus , moles , and mining bees . insect mould usually organise a cylindric , coiled shape and have a typical muddy aspect .
You ’ll screw you have a trouble with earthworms if you could on a regular basis see these cast springing up on your lawn . You ’ll also be able-bodied to see the holes left behind on blind drunk twenty-four hours . They ’re usually around 6 mm in diameter .
On occasion , you may even make out the red - brown earthworm doing its stage business . These worms subsist in the top part of the soil and can grow up to 200 mm in distance . Adult worm have a thick band at the upper ending of their body . So keep an eye out !
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Benefits of Lawn-Loving Worms
Yes , worms can be a nuisance , but they in reality do a lot of trade good for your garden . They naturally improve the dirt , making it unspoiled for your dear plant life .
So , what are the benefit are having worm around ? Well …
1. Worms increase soil aeration & improve soil structure
As worms exhaust the soil , they create niggling pockets of air throughout . This improve the dirt structure as it aids the movement of urine , atomic number 8 , carbon copy dioxide and nutrient underground . All of these goodies are then available to your weed . Without worms , the job of aerating the lawnfalls solely to you !
2. They maintain the grass and prevent diseases
Lawn Edward Thatch is the chickenhearted layer of constitutional matter that accumulates underneath the green bits of your grass . It ’s not democratic amongst gardener – for starters , it can causegrass to become yellow . Helpfully , worms eat lawn thatched roof as well as filth . They also consume dead root and remaining pasture clippings . All these things serve with grass wellness .
Lawn thatch can cause pasture to support from diseases . For example ‘ Dry Patch ’ and ‘ Type 2 Fairy Rings ’ . These can make a lot of hurt , but worms help diminish the effects of these , too .
Without worms , you ’ll need to spend more meter Diamond State - thatch the lawn yourself . That might meangetting the scarifier outmore often to avoid this body-build up of constitutive topic .
3. Worms enhance nutrient accessibility
sprain out , insect cast are incredibly nutritious - plenteous . This is because the digestive enzymes that are release through evacuation concentrate the food . In fact , louse release more nutrients than they consume – up to 11 time more !
Only a tiny portion of worm body waste ends up as casts . The balance stay in the dirt . This makes food more accessible to the grass . Therefore , worms are doing us a genuine service – your pasture will sure as shooting be grateful for all of the extra food ! ( Plus , you may get you do n’t have to applylawn feedas regularly ! ) .
As you may see , there are a lot of benefit to keeping insect and their worm wander around .
Worm Cast Removal Methods
If you ’re still set on remove louse casts , two methods exploit best :
1. Pick up and toss
Pick your worm cast by hired man and toss them onto thecompost bin . Your compost will benefit from the nutrient - rich grease . For more backsheesh on cause compost at place , check out ourultimate guide to compost !
2. Sweep or pick up and scatter
When worm casts are dry , they can be swept across the ground or broken up and scattered . This make them less seeable whilst keeping the nutrient uncommitted for your dope . You should attempt to avert using yourlawn mowerwhilst hold back for insect casts to dry out – this will conduce to the casts getting squashed into the grass .
How to Get Rid of Worm Casts on Your Lawn
Still wonder how to stop worm casts ? Well , first you have two options – go constitutional or utilize chemical mastery . We ’ll start up with the organic path .
1. Let your grass grow
Allowing your grass to grow longer will make dirt ball cast of characters less seeable . They wo n’t be gone , but you wo n’t be able-bodied to see them ! Some mowers offer a high-pitched cutting tallness than others ( like thebest lawn mowers for long grass ) which reach worm hurl easier to hold in .
2. Reduce the prevalence of lawn thatch
By getting rid of lawn Edward Teach , you eliminate a vital source of food for the worm . This will make them less potential to hang up around on your lawn .
Scarifying the lawn is the best way to off thatch . Check out our article onhow to use a lawn scarifierto make trusted you do n’t damage your lawn !
3. Remove dead leaves and grass clippings
This admit away another essential food source , also reducing louse numbers game . They wo n’t hang around for long if there is n’t any delightful eats !
4. Ditch watering, organic fertilisers and compost
However tempting it may be to water the casts away – stop before you do ! The pie-eyed primer coat make worm come up to the surface – they love a minute of ‘ rain ’ and it ’ll only further more casts .
likewise , worms do it themselves some organic fertiliser – compost will keep them subject for day !
If you ’re water often , or using a lot of alimental rich compost ( which certainly has its benefit – take a look ! ) , you ’ll be encourage worm to cling around .
5. Maintain your lawn through top-dressing
keep to a annual lawn care architectural plan is a great way to lessen the effect of worms on your lawn . We ’ve written amonth - by - month guide of how to best handle for your lawn – check it out for some useful advice .
Using a top - dressing with a gamey assiduity of Baroness Dudevant will diminish the lawn ’s wet and make the earth less likeable to worms – so it ’s a potential road to regard . If the mention of moxie sounds strange , you may be interested to learn thatusing lawn George Sand actually has a stove of benefits !
As I mentioned above – there are some chemical method acting that can also be used to confine the figure of dirt ball casts .
6. Use Iron sulphate
Iron sulfate is a worm cast treatment that increases the acidity of the grease . worm hate acidity ! apply an atomic number 26 sulfate solution every couple of calendar month will cause worms to tunnel profoundly , leaving your grass free from hurl . Use lawn sand for bound and atomic number 26 sulfate for fall . Your sess will look dark-green as a effect , too ! Iron sulphate is often found in a lot ofmoss - defeat lawn fertilisers .
7. Use a Worm Suppressant
The other chemical plan of attack is to use aworm suppressant . There are several worm suppressant products on the mart like Cast Clear or NutriFlo Casting . These products moderate certain nutrients that worms do n’t wish , so it deters them from sticking around . ensure the merchandise does n’t harm worms and instead only deters them – they ’re still worthful creatures after all !
Worms – Friend or Foe?
So , there you have it – from the benefit of let worms in the garden , to the methods of keeping them forth – we ’ve continue it all !
Ultimately , it comes down to this round-eyed conclusion : if you desire worms in the garden , you may have to put up with worm casts – grow foresighted pasturage can help disguise them . If you do n’t want any insect casts , you belike need to deter worms from sticking around .
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