Earthworms in the Garden

Earthworms in the Garden

Notice the lowly earthworm, squirming away, going about its everyday business. Simple creatures you may think but they have quite a important use in the garden. Did you know the earthworms are nature's first gardeners? They don't exist just for kids to eat and fishermen to use as bait :)

Some Basic Earthworm FactsEarthworms are present in almost every type of soil but the healthier the soil the greater the numbers. A healthy soil permits lots of air and moisture, both of which are needed by the earthworm for a continued existence. Earthworms have no lungs like you or me but instead breathe through their skin. Their whole skin absorbs oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. They also need moisture to assist them in respiration but too much moisture is not good for them.

There are four types of earthworm that you may run into:

Nightcrawlers: 8 to 10 inches long and the fisherman's favourite.Garden Worms: 5 to 7 inches long and found commonly in damp soils.Manure Worms: 4 to 5 inches long and found in manure rich soils.Red Worms: 3 to 4 inches long and the most commercially available.
Why Earthworms in the Garden?A garden without earthworms would miss out on all of the great benefits that they bring to it. Their first job is to till the soil by tunneling through it. Tunnels created allow air and moisture to pass easily through the soil, creating a healthy environment for plants. Tunnels retain water that the plants can take up and also hold air to help bacteria break down organic matter within the soil.

After digestion earthworms produce excrement about the size of a pin head. This excrement is called "castings" or "vermicompost" and is an excellent soil conditioning material. It improves properties of the soil such as porosity and moisture retention, aids plant growth and helps in the fight against pests and diseases.

Increasing Earthworm Population in the GardenHow does one go about increasing the number of earthworms in their garden soil? Well the best way to do so is to add more organic matter to the soil. Earthworms cannot get enough of the stuff.and will seek it out wherever they can find it.
Finally...The earthworm is just as important to the garden as the gardener that maintains it because they till the soil and add a soil conditioner in the form of castings. They are as much a gardener as you are. The next time you see one wiggling on the ground in front of you bend down and say "got any good gardening tips?" You never know it may answer :)
I will leave the final word to a one Charles Darwin who once had this to say about the earthworm:

"The plow is one of the most ancient and most valuable of man's inventions; but long before he existed, the land was in fact regularly plowed and still continues to be thus plowed by earthworms. It may be doubted whether there are many other animals which have played so important a part in the history of the world, as have these lowly organized creatures."
Francis Kilkelly runs a popular home and gardening community at GardenStew.com, conta ining gardening forums and gardening blogs.
Original article location: Earthworms in the Garden / Earthworm Facts

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Minute plant-feeding insects

Aphids, also known as greenfly, blackfly or plant lice, are minute plant-feeding insects in the superfamily Aphidoidea in the homopterous division of the order Hemiptera. Recent classification within the Hemiptera has changed the old term 'Homoptera' to two suborders:
Sternorrhyncha and Auchenorrhyncha with the suborder Heteroptera containing a large group of insects known as the 'true-bugs'; gnat bugs, pond skaters, shore bugs, toad bugs, water boatmen, backswimmers, etc. More recent reclassifications have resulted in a substantial rearrangement of the constituent families with the Aphidoidea, with some old families reduced to subfamily rank, and numerous old subfamilies elevated to family rank.

About 4,000 species of aphids are known, classified in 10 families; of these, around 250 species are serious pests for agriculture and forestry as well as an annoyance for gardeners. They vary in size from 1-10 mm long.

Important natural enemies include the predatory ladybirds/ladybugs/ladybeetles , hoverfly larvae , and lacewings (Neuroptera: Chrysopidae), and entomopathogenic fungi like Lecanicillium lecanii and the Entomophthorales.


Aphids are distributed world-wide, but they are most common in temperate zones. It is possible for aphids to migrate great distances (mainly through passive dispersal riding on winds) depending on the weather patterns; for example, the lettuce aphid spreading from New Zealand to Tasmania. They have also been spread by human transportation of infested plant materials.

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Tips on Composting

Tips on compost use

To improve the quality of the soil, add compost. It will improve the physical condition of the soil and will increase the fertility of the soil.
To reduce insect pests and disease infestation, add compost to the soil.
For your garden, spread compost one inch thick
When you use compost, you may also choose not to use any mulch.
Produce it easily at home, just by dumping all your plant parts, lawn clipping, and kitchen waste to a trench or bin.

If you have problem of poor water holding capacity in your garden, add compost to improve water retention capacity of the soil.
For erosion problem in the garden, use compost on it.
If you are in southern climate, you may need to use compost each year, as in southern climate it decomposes faster
In northern climate, compost decomposes slow, so you need to add more compost again after 2 years or more.
Do not use improperly made compost. If the compost is not well decomposed, do not use it, as it may contain germs and weed seeds.
Buy vermicompost from a reputed seller only.
If you are using mulches and amendments in your garden, use only half inch of compost
If the supply of the compost is less, then you can side dress it. Place it around plants or rows.
Side dressing can be best done in late spring and early summer
In case of side dressing, work out the compost one inch away from the stem.
For shallow rooted crops, just leave the compost on the soil.

If you are practicing organic cultivation, then also you can use compost in your garden. But for certification, prepare your own compost or buy a compost which has been certified as organic.
For better health of the lawn, top dress it with compost every year or two.
Apply compost in the fall for maximum effect. You can also use it in early spring.
Add compost to the hole made for planting seeds and seedli ngs.
Adding compost to the hole at the time of planting is beneficial for the perennials
For annuals, one dose of compost will be more beneficial.

Ask for expert advice. Expert will be able to help you in case you have any problem.
Bikash is an MBA who works as an freelance writer. He worked for one of the best private banks in India. He has been writing for the last 5 years. He has worked with many US,UK and Indian clients. Visit him at http://bikiassam.tripod.com

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