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Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

More worms the better of course.but just wondering if to many worms during growing time can be harmful to root hairs.with the chomping away& squirming threw you root system.cause fine root hairs are your intake& bigger roots that they branch off of are just transport tubes?

12/12/2012 10:37:38 PM

Baker City Oregon

http://www.professorshouse.com/Your-Home/Gardening-Plants/General/Articles/What-Do-Worms-Eat/

No. They eat dead organic matter. They are actually eating the microorganisms(bacteria) on the matter. That's why you find so many in soil with a lot of organic matter; such as yours. They are actually 'little composters'.

12/13/2012 8:04:22 AM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

O ok thank you wasnt sure if all that movement& stirring round would do anything with to many.thanks

12/14/2012 5:00:12 PM

Seattle, WA

The only potential issue I see is that they break down the organic matter, so you may in extreme issues (pure worm castings) have issues with drainage and aeration.

12/15/2012 3:26:37 PM

Mnt.pleasant ,tennessee

Ok thanks.i dont have gobs of them like most folks.but there seems to be a few night crawlers every scoop.so im happy for now

12/15/2012 3:35:28 PM

Seattle, WA

Yeah, just to clarify my post, it would be more of an issue in a container than in the ground. Worms are excellent for your plants health and growth and their castings are just about the best thing from an organic perspective that you can add to your soil.

I have a 400 gallon smart pot with horse manure in it, that I've amended with some compost, calcium (oyster shell flour), glacial rock dust, basalt, and a few other ingredients. Over time, the worms will process the material and I'll have some excellent, biologically active castings for our farm.

12/15/2012 6:52:16 PM