Yes "compost" worms are often brandlings or tiger worms as opposed to garden worms. I think you will find there are more than you think even if you don't see them but yes manure or compost will encourage them. You can do a test, water a patch of ground thoroughly and let it soak in for an hour then lightly stamp on the ground worms will often come up to the surface when you do this (you see blackbirds do this on your lawn). I am a big fan of seaweed tonic, and seaweed meal it has micro nutrients in it which seem to help soil organisms of many types.
Luckily I have all of those but have been putting down a well-rotted manure mulch over winter on my slightly alkaline clay for decades. It helps enormously.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Since worms seem to need moist soil to get about maybe lack of them in some areas is because of the dryness? No rain of any account for over a month here.
“Every day is ordinary, until it isn't.” - Bernard Cornwell-Death of Kings
I think the answer will definitely be in creating a good compost heap.
Once the lock down does end try to find a shop for anglers. That would be a good source for brandlings or tiger worms.
When I started my three compost bays 2 years ago I was aware of the absence of worms for the first few months so I visited our local angling shop and bought a couple of small tubs of the above worms. They don't look very big when you first get them but they will multiply and grow very fat on your compost.
Since then each season's compost has been turned over and made its way from bay to bay and when I visited the latest 'ready batch' yesterday every shovel full of compost had 3-6 big fat healthy, happy worms in it.
Thanks all. I will try to answer your queries. I haven't tried well rotten manure and I haven't got room for a compost heap. A must do when I can actually get some. ( manure) My local SM has got some I think, would that be allowed to be included in my essential shop, (normally done on my way home from work.)
I haven't seen any worm casts and I am often going out at 5 am, summer and winter, rain or shine, for work and have never seen any worms on the path.
I think I have got some seaweed feed in the shed, I will have a look....... after I have tried watering a couple of patches, and stamping on them, ( i hope it's not a rain dance )will do one in front and one in back. I haven't seen blackbirds on my lawn, but I often get magpies pecking at the grass.
I have saved that link Bob and will read it when I've had my dinner/tea/lunch.
Shopping for anything is a problem at present but when this is all over you should find that you can get manure delivered by local people who collect from near-by stables or farms. They advertise in the local press. It's much easier than hauling bags of the stuff about. Good luck.
Posts
No rain of any account for over a month here.
Once the lock down does end try to find a shop for anglers. That would be a good source for brandlings or tiger worms.
When I started my three compost bays 2 years ago I was aware of the absence of worms for the first few months so I visited our local angling shop and bought a couple of small tubs of the above worms. They don't look very big when you first get them but they will multiply and grow very fat on your compost.
Since then each season's compost has been turned over and made its way from bay to bay and when I visited the latest 'ready batch' yesterday every shovel full of compost had 3-6 big fat healthy, happy worms in it.
I haven't tried well rotten manure and I haven't got room for a compost heap. A must do when I can actually get some. ( manure) My local SM has got some I think, would that be allowed to be included in my essential shop, (normally done on my way home from work.)
I haven't seen any worm casts and I am often going out at 5 am, summer and winter, rain or shine, for work and have never seen any worms on the path.
I think I have got some seaweed feed in the shed, I will have a look....... after I have tried watering a couple of patches, and stamping on them, ( i hope it's not a rain dance )will do one in front and one in back. I haven't seen blackbirds on my lawn, but I often get magpies pecking at the grass.
I have saved that link Bob and will read it when I've had my dinner/tea/lunch.
Thanks again all.