WORMCASTS
BILLYC
Posts: 70
Over the last three years my once beautiful lawn has been devastated by wormcasts, They appear in there hundreds regulary at anytime of year including winter.
It was once a pleasure to cut my luxuriant, lush, grass but now the mower simply flattens the wormcasts slimy mess which kills the grass.
From the internet I have discovered that worm deterents are only available under licence. (Golf clubs etc.) I have tried treating with - Sulphate of Iron & Sulphate of Lime with no effect. My lawn is in permanent shade so casts are always wet & never fully dry out. So it is not possible to wait till they dry out & then brush them off.
If I do get a reply please do not say that worms are good for the soil & casts are rich in nutrients. To me they are just one big slimy mess that I am desperate to eradicate. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posts
I used to work on bowling greens and everyday we had to remove the casts off the playing surface. I don't know how big your lawn is but I think it could be useful if you purchased a lawn swish (a hollow tube with a fibre glass rod inside which you run across the surface of the lawn and it disperses the casts and also removes the dew which can lead to fungal infections and prevents any seeds germinating in the worm casts. I know they are expensive (about £70) but well worth it.
only thing i could think of is same as above really, wait for a dry day and use a broom to break down the casts? not very practical on a large lawn. I know people used to use arsenic etc. probably best avoided! problem may be down to constant shade perhaps? do you cut and lay or pick up your cuttings?
enzo
I have tried brushing casts off with a swish. Sorry it doesn't work. Swish just flattens casts resulting in slimy mess. The lawn is at the front of the house (north facing) approx. 40 sq. metres. I cannot wait for a dry day as casts are always wet due to shade. I pick up all mower cuttings.
I have a strict regime for feeding the lawn. Winter low nitrogen feed to encourage root growth. Spring high nitrogen feed to encourage grass growth. Occasional (once in summer) application Sulphate of Ammonia. I suspect this may be the problem that maybe worms like a good fertilised soil??????
Thanks for your help but I think I will just have to accept defeat. Worms 1 BILLY C a big fat zero.
You need to wait unil the casts and lawn are completly dry before brushing them away. You can also make sure you reduce the amount of food available by removing grass clippings and leaves regulary. Worms are benficial to the garden though, as they inprove aeriation and drainage of the soil. So its not all bad.
To donutsmrs - Sorry you seem to be missing the point entirely. Unless we have a red hot long, long summer the casts never have a chance to dry out. Read my reply I do remove all mower clippings & leaves.
David Barker - Please read my reply. I do feed in winter , spring & summer. You are lucky to have no wormcasts. I live in the N West - Chester area & wormcasts over the last 3 years have become a major problem in this area. My sons lawn - 1 mile away - has a large infestation. Many other lawns - some up to 15 miles away - are also infested.
There is no simple solution to this problem. I have tried everything I know all the solutions posted have been tried.
I need a botanical expert. Anyone out there????????
http://www.landscapejuice.com/2007/01/controlling_wor.html
Everyone one on this forum are trying to help and give what knowledge they have, there is no need to be so rude. Maybe you should try concrete, that would solve your problem.
well said up51r if itd that much in the shade its a lost battle grow something else