Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
greenbean08_gw

Worms!!

greenbean08_gw
15 years ago

I was outdoors enjoying the nice weather today, filling one of my new garden beds. I wanted to "seed" the bed with some worms and I reached into one of my older beds to grab a handful of material (and hopefully some worms).

I got a whopper of a handful this time! Check out these babies!

From Tales of a Transplanted Gardener
From Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

Apparently worms like squash. This is part of a squash (one of several) I buried in the bed in the fall.

This is more like what I was expecting to find in my handful...

From Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

Comments (11)

  • anniesgranny
    15 years ago

    WOW! I'd better start burying squash! I cleaned up some of my beds today, and I did see a few worms (and lots of partially decomposed newspaper from bottom liners and paper pots), but certainly nothing like that! I guess I should go out with a flashlight and see if I have night crawlers.

    Granny

    Here is a link that might be useful: Annie's Kitchen Garden

  • engineeredgarden
    15 years ago

    Man! I think i'm gonna bury my squash, too! Well....maybe a couple. Heh.

    EG

  • sinfonian
    15 years ago

    Makes me wish I hadn't lined my beds with worm stopping landscape fabric. Hehe. Amazing!

  • jbest123
    15 years ago

    Amy I suspect that your vegies are going to do great this year. My worms went south for the winter and are just coming back now. I have to shred the pumpkins and squash so it gets distributed through the compost because of the moles.:o(

    John

    Here is a link that might be useful: Johns Journal

  • pthomas453
    15 years ago

    That is impressive greenbean.

    A question for you, do you have any weed fabric on the underside of your bed?

    I am planning on making my first SFG beds shortly and was planning on putting fabric down to keep the grass out but wont this keep the worms out as well?

  • greenbean08_gw
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    It's funny, I don't think I've ever been so happy to see worms as I've been with this garden! I've always tried not to kill them and I knew they were good but I think I have learned so much more about soil life this past year, I have a greater appreciation for the little guys.

    I don't have fabric under my beds. I'm actually removing the landscape fabric from under the mulch in my paths too. I've recently found a lot of worms that seem to be wound up in the fibers. I want them to be able to move freely throughout the area.

    Last year, I put a thin paper layer (I didn't have much newspaper at the time) under the beds and this year I'm using a thicker paper layer under the new ones because I have it. There was not much growing where I put the garden that needed smothering. I probably could have gotten away with just filling the boxes with nothing underneath.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

  • pthomas453
    15 years ago

    No fabric? I have crabgrass in the area where I will plant so I will probably use the fabric. I ordered Mels's book and perhaps he elaborates more on this.

    I think I will add worms to the mix.

  • sinfonian
    15 years ago

    I don't know why but I added worms to my mels mix and most if not all died. Maybe it was the worms, but I haven't tried again to add them. And with my fabric and gravel lining, none are getting in on their own.

  • greenbean08_gw
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    I can't say for sure, but I would think unless you're dealing with something like Bermuda grass, if you put down a thick layer of newspaper or cardboard, it should smother the grass underneath. You could ask on the soil & compost forum if anyone has experience with crabgrass under their lasagna garden.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Tales of a Transplanted Gardener

  • engineeredgarden
    15 years ago

    I have crabgrass, and the fabric stopped it from entering my garden.

    EG

  • lawncheney
    15 years ago

    I used cardboard to put in mine last year, and it stopped the grass from coming up. I had a few persistent buggers that came up, but they were easy to pull out... maybe 5 or 6 per 4x4.

    I moved the squares several feet last night to make a 4x8 out of them, and there was no sign of grass or cardboard... just a couple strands of packing tape. I think cardboard is the way to go.

Sponsored
Landscape Concepts of Fairfax, Inc.
Average rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars17 Reviews
Northern VA's Creative Team of Landscape Designers & Horticulturists