Worms, welcome wonderful wrigglers!

The total weight of earthworms in our country weights more than that of our entire population! This astonishing number hints at the colossal and indispensable work these unseen laborers accomplish.

Let’s dig a bit deeper underground to better understand the crucial role of the earthworm in the garden.

Also read:

• Organic tips for soil health
• Recognize the main garden birds to better welcome them

The earthworm

• Collectively, earthworms represent 70% of underground animal biomass.
• They include nearly 200 species in many countries, and 5000 species throughout the world.
• It’s an invertebrate.
• An earthworm has neither eyes nor ears.
• The earthworm has five hearts.
• It’s a hermaphrodite.

A complex body:

Most kinds of earthworm measure between 2 and 12 inches (between 5 and 30 cm). Its elongated body is more complex than it seems.

• It consists of rings covered with tiny hairs that help it move.
• Holes present on its skin allow it to breathe, as it has no lungs. Skin is slimy and covered with mucus to prevent it from dehydrating.
• At each end of its body is an important ring. The thinner one is the head. The bigger one is the anus.
• In the middle of the body, you can see a larger, soft, purplish ring. It contains the worm’s reproductive organs.

Did you know?

If you cut an earthworm between its reproductive ring and anus, it can survive because all its vital organs are contained between reproductive zone and head. Otherwise, it will die. In no case will a worm cut in half regrow, as is sometimes heard.

Role and use of the earthworm

Their presence in the garden indicates that soil quality is good, because an earthworm does not like acidic, sandy, arid, often disturbed (plowed) and poor, bare environments.

• An earthworm is a basically a long digestive tube. Its thinnest ring (equivalent to its head) feeds on organic matter, decaying vegetation, bacteria, fungi and protozoa without ever attacking crops.
• Its largest ring (anus) expels remains in the form of a fine soil called “castings”.

Worm castings:

Excrements of earthworms contribute to soil enrichment and plant fertilization. They are rich in magnesium, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium. You can see them on lawns as small twists.

• You can use this fine and rich soil for repotting plants.

A very productive partner for gardeners:

There are about two hundred earthworms per square meter, burrowing as down to a depth of 6.5 to 12 feet (two to four meters).

• By feeding, they recycle organic materials.
• Earthworms tirelessly plow, fertilize, and structure soils, actively contributing to bioturbation
• By digging tunnels, they allow better penetration of rainwater into the soil.

Attracting earthworms to the garden

Some elements are conducive to the presence of earthworms in the garden.

• Plant debris like dead leaves.
• They delight in manure.
• Cool, clayish soils.
• Renewal and diversity in the crops and flowers planted.

The ideal garden for earthworms must respect the cycle of seasons with its resting periods and thoughtful maintenance. It is important to keep some areas wild and undisturbed.

Contemplate:

“Earthworms dive into soil so as not to fall in love with the stars”. (Yvan Audouard)

L.D.

→ Also read:

• Organic tips for soil health
• Ants: a social life and useful work in the garden