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How to control earthworms?

IulianIulian Posts: 4
in Problem solving

I know earthworms are very useful creatures and I don`t want to get rid of them completely, but they tend to multiply beyond any reasonable quantity in my lawn, which is literally strewn with their casts in autumn or when the weather becomes wetter. Right now my lawn looks like a battlefield with casts crowding all over it.

I think the problem is that I have a very small garden (about 80 sq.m.) in a city, i.e. it is closed in by low concrete walls and the worms are thriving as they cannot move out nor are there many natural predators to keep them on check. I try to garden organically, so this contributes, too.

Any ideas as to how I could keep their numbers to a reasonable population? Thanks in advance.

Iulian

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Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,140

    The reason you're getting a lot of casts on the lawn at the moment is because the worms are nearer the surface due to the wet weather and it indicates that your lawn is becoming waterlogged. 

    Thorough scarifying and aeration of the lawn will help drainage and the worms will be able to move deeper in the soil which is where they prefer to be.  Cooler weather will also encourage them to move downwards. 

    This is only a temporary problem and there is no need to reduce their numbers - doing so would have an impact on the health of your lawn.


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





  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    Morning lulian image if you watch Monty two shows back he gave advice on worm casts on a lawn and demonstrated how easy it is . good luck but don't get rid of them their our garden little helpers .

  • IulianIulian Posts: 4

    By the way, one thing I forgot, I know hedgehogs could be of help, and they would also take care of the slugs (another headache of mine), but I wonder whether it is possible to keep a European hedgehog in a small garden as a pet. They are freedom-loving creatures and the way to do it is to attract one to your garden, but my garden is in the city and I don`t think this is an option.

    Thanks again.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,140

    Hedgehogs need a large area - they can roam up to 2 kilometres a night - it would be cruel to keep one in an enclosed garden. image

    We used to live in a city centre terrace and we had a hedgehog visiting regularly.  The gardens need to be connected so the hedgehogs can roam - take a look here

    http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/help-hedgehogs.html

    image


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





  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    Lulian: the worms will self regulate themselves. Your problem is the condition of your lawn not the amount of worms you have. Get the lawn better aerated so that it isn't water logged and your worms will disappear. 

  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    Just lookingimage

    I had a vision of rampaging earthworms.

    Mine are a peaceful lotimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • IulianIulian Posts: 4

    Oh, guys, thanks for such quick replies. I am not planning to kill them off, be assured image

  • LesleyKLesleyK Posts: 4,029

    Well I think you're lucky (even if you don't)image.  I can dig anywhere in the garden and not come across any earthworms at all.  There are some in the compost bin but I think our wet clay soil doesn't suit them.  Embrace the wormimage

  • IulianIulian Posts: 4

    LesleyK: My soil is wet clay, and yet... I think your worm deficit may have other origins, but I couldn`t say more.

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