Umm, fishing shops might be hard to find in this area! Don't think I've ever seen one. Our compost bin (Daleks) problem is most likely to be that they are sat on plastic to keep out the nearby hedge roots, but that also keeps out the worms - so Catch 22. We get a few of the red ones (goodness know where from) but there's never very many.
It's funny how we take some things for granted. There's worms everywhere in my garden and until now, I've never really thought anything about it. They're just there.
The soil, otherwise described as dust in my garden, has had to have lots of compost on our soil. It has eventually improved. Home made compost as well we are lucky to have space to make it . I have also tipped many bags of B&Q peat free compost poored over it but we have been there for over 30 yrs. The dusty soil does pick up the compost and sticks to it which makes the whole lot cling together. Mine has lots of worms now.
You might just not see any worms when you dig, it doesn't mean they aren't there. Do you have a compost heap? A compost heap, especially one with a lid, should be lipping with worms. If you have a compost heap with none in it then you might have a problem.
I also have few worms and sandy light soil. I’m sure I read that worms don’t like frequent disturbance with the ground being dug over so this autumn I plan to heap lots of manure on the soil and hopefully the few worms in my soil will invite their friends to come and party in the manure, pulling it down into the ground. Or am I just trying to avoid some work?
Worms can be odd things. one day they are on the surface next day they are 4 foot deep . I think this depends on water levels and weather conditions.
I see that someone mentioned brandling worms. I use to get my brandling worms free from local sewage farm as they have millions there and if you want a quick easy earth worms cheap you can get from some fishing tackle shops. a couple of £ will get you a couple of dozen but dig a hole and put them in as mr and mrs blackbird will soon have them out for an early lunch or supper. plenty of manure will get then off to a good start too.
I wouldn't buy worms in....if your soil isn't wormy already then you would most likely be releasing then to die as your conditions aren’t suiting worms. So as other have said, work on changing the conditions to favour worms...compost, compost, compost.
We have lots of birds, toads and mice so our worm population is modest despite endless composting.
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Home made compost as well we are lucky to have space to make it . I have also tipped many bags of B&Q peat free compost poored over it but we have been there for over 30 yrs.
The dusty soil does pick up the compost and sticks to it which makes the whole lot cling together. Mine has lots of worms now.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
Do you have a compost heap? A compost heap, especially one with a lid, should be lipping with worms. If you have a compost heap with none in it then you might have a problem.
I see that someone mentioned brandling worms. I use to get my brandling worms free from local sewage farm as they have millions there and if you want a quick easy earth worms cheap you can get from some fishing tackle shops. a couple of £ will get you a couple of dozen but dig a hole and put them in as mr and mrs blackbird will soon have them out for an early lunch or supper. plenty of manure will get then off to a good start too.
good luck with getting them back in your garden.
We have lots of birds, toads and mice so our worm population is modest despite endless composting.