Increase Earthworms

When was the last time you saw an earthworm? Chances are, you didn’t think much about the sighting. If you were working in the flower garden, you may have disturbed some in the soil. If it was after a heavy rain, you saw them writhing on the sidewalk. If it was three days after that rain, you saw their desiccated carcasses, frozen in their last flight like the mummies of Pompeii.

Whether they make you feel squeamish or indifferent, earthworms are a vital part of a living, healthy soil. Consider life without earthworms: the soil would become flat, hardpan, as lifeless as the sphagnum moss in an artificial flower arrangement. The extinction of the earthworm could serve as the premise for an apocalyptic novel. To protect this lowly member of the annelid family, how can flower gardeners nurture the earthworm?  

Photo © flickr user Pfly

Stop using chemicals on plants and in the soil. Earthworms breathe through their skin and ingest soil, so broad-spectrum pesticides have a detrimental effect on their populations. If you aren’t ready to give up all of your garden chemicals yet, apply them only when pests are present and follow package directions.