The nights are getting longer, the temperature’s dropping, and the rain just won’t quit. Not great news for your wormery, right?
So, what should you do?
First things first: Move that wormery somewhere dry – a shed or garage is perfect for winter. This will keep the frost and rain off. If you can’t move it indoors, place it close to a house wall. This way, it gets a bit of warmth and some shelter from the wind, rain, and frost.
In the summer, I use shredded paper and cardboard to keep the wormery dry, and guess what? This works in winter too! Paper dries out the wormery if it gets too wet, keeps the compost airy, and adds carbon for the worms. Plus, it produces fantastic compost for your plants or garden soil.
To keep the worms cozy and dry, consider getting a couple of moisture mats. These are great year-round but especially helpful in winter. They keep the worms in the dark (so they work better), dry, and warm. Remember, worms slow down in the cold, so every little bit helps to keep them active.
If it gets super cold and stays below freezing, try to get your wormery under cover. If that’s not possible, wrap it in bubble wrap, cover it with old carpet, and place it near the flu from your central heating (but not too close – you don’t want them getting carbon monoxide poisoning!).
When it’s very cold, feed your worms less. They slow down, and uneaten food can rot, causing smelly, acidic, and anaerobic conditions that could kill your worms.
Keep your wormery thriving this autumn and winter with these tips!