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Where are the worms?

GreenjobGreenjob Posts: 48
in The potting shed
Hi, I've been digging in my garden for a year now and have found one worm. Soil is slightly acidic is this the reason? 

Is it worth my while buying some worms in or do worms just not like me? Any advice much appreciated. 
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Posts

  • amancalledgeorgeamancalledgeorge Posts: 2,736
    My guess would be the soil is lacking organic matter. Have you tried adding manure and see if the situation improves? 
    To Plant a Garden is to Believe in Tomorrow
  • GreenjobGreenjob Posts: 48
    Thanks for the reply, I've cleared and dug in manure on a couple of new beds before christmas and still no sign of them. If I keep the beds mulched do you think the soil acidity is no problem? 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited June 2020
    Just keep adding organic matter to all the beds  ... pile it on ... they’ll turn up when it’s to their liking. Have you got a compost heap?  

    When we came here the soil was thin and gritty and nary a worm to be seen ... now we cant go out there without tripping over them. 

    Also they tend to head downwards when the soil is dry ... and we’ve had a very dry spring. They may be lurking a couple of feet down. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • GreenjobGreenjob Posts: 48
    Got more of a compost tip at the moment, lots of trees, hedges and what not shredded in the corner. Building a respectable place to compost it is on the list. 

    Thanks for all the replies, I'll give it another year or two of digging in manure before I think about buying a test box of worms. 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    you don't have to dig it in, just mulching it is fine
    Devon.
  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    The worms are probably all in your compost tip :)
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I turned over a patch of heavy clay the other day. I wiggled the fork into the inch -wide crevices and levered out big clumps. They all had worm holes in them but no sign of the worms. The worms are still there but down really deep.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • GreenjobGreenjob Posts: 48
    Mulching sounds good to me, 
    There brave worms if there in that. Am going to have a look though 😄
  • Pauline 7Pauline 7 Posts: 2,246
    I have lived in my house for 7 years now and have done my garden up from a completely blank canvas, adding compost and manure every year. It blooms lovely but I have never seen any evidence of worms.
    West Yorkshire
  • GreenjobGreenjob Posts: 48
    Is your soil on the acidic side Pauline? 
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