Incorporating garden worms (Lumbricus terrestris) and/or composting worms (such as Dendrabaena veneta and Eisenia andrei) into your garden or raised beds can dramatically enhance soil health, structure, and fertility. These worms play distinct roles in the ecosystem, benefiting plant growth and soil quality.
Materials Needed:
- Garden worms (Lumbricus terrestris)
- Composting worms (Dendrabaena veneta, Eisenia Andrei)
- Organic compost
- Mulch (e.g., straw, leaves, or wood chips)
- Watering can or hose
Instructions
- Prepare the Garden:
- Ensure the soil is moist and free from chemical treatments where possible. Use organic practices where you can by avoiding synthetic fertilisers and pesticides.
- Opt for a no-dig approach where practical to preserve soil structure and protect existing underground life.
- Selecting Worms:
- If using garden worms (Lumbricus terrestris), add about 8-10 worms per square meter to improve soil aeration and drainage.
- If using composting worms (Dendrabaena veneta and Eisenia andrei), add them to your compost pile or directly under a thick layer of mulch in your vegetable or flower garden to help break down organic waste.
- Adding Worms:
- Garden Worms: Dig out a trowel depth hole every square metre add a bit of water and compost and add 5-8 of your garden worms and gently cover them with soil. (You can use worm casts from your wormery to fill in the holes)
- Composting Worms: Spread these worms over your compost heap once it has cooled, or under the mulch in garden beds where they can thrive on decomposing organic matter.
- Mulching:
- Apply a layer of organic mulch where practical in your garden. This will support your composting worms for the composting worms and retains retains soil moisture for garden worms.
- Watering:
- Keep the soil consistently moist. Worms need moisture to move through the soil and breathe through their skin. The garden worms will burrom to a depth of 2 metres plus.
- Maintenance:
- Regularly add mulch and organic matter where you can (your fermented Bokashi or your worm casts are a great way to do this).
- Continue to protect your garden from chemicals and minimise soil disturbance to support the worms’ natural activities.
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