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New build; soil - no worms!

Ellie100283Ellie100283 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hello
We have recently moved into a newly built propery. I have made some beds and in my impatience planted a few thing (which actually seem quite happy). The soil is quite sandy and would usually I think be clay. The thing is there are no worms. None. I will put some compost in and mulch when in comes to winter but should I buy in worms? If so which sort?
Thank you
Ellie

Posts

  • AsarumAsarum Posts: 661
    You would need Earthworms or Garden worms.  You can buy them - Wiggly Wigglers charge £21 for 100 worms!
    East Anglia
  • RuthmshawRuthmshaw Posts: 45
    Hi, we had this problem 4 years ago. My husband is a fisherman and whenever he went to the fishing bait shop he would buy a tub of worms the leftovers of which I would tip in and lightly dig into the boarders. It worked as we are now overrun with healthy worms.
  • RuthmshawRuthmshaw Posts: 45
    Lob and dendrobaena worms
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    You have no worms because there's nothing for them to live on.
    If you buy some, they'll just die.
    You need to add organic mater - rotted manure of any kind - rotted farmyard manure is widely available - you can add some now and just lightly mix it in with the top of your soil.
    Once there's food for the worms they'll appear like magic - but not overnight.

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Dig in some well-rotted farmyard manure ... the worms will come. 

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





  • AthelasAthelas Posts: 946
    We have a new build garden, well no longer so new — bought in 2016 and we did the garden up in 2017, mixing in a lot of topsoil and organic matter, and every year after that laying manure compost on top (around the plants). In the first couple of years I thought about buying these https://www.wormsdirectuk.co.uk/product/worm-colonies/ but never did in the end as now there are loads of worms. It does take time though.
    Cambridgeshire, UK
  • ebbentleyebbentley Posts: 1
    Thanks. I knew I was being a bit cheeky/optimistic. Better raid one of the local stable's manure heaps. Think I'll see if they turn up - the slugs all came with me 😒🌻
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