These wriggly insects are a gardener’s best friend. Their massive contribution to the success of crops often goes unnoticed, but we’re going to take you through our top five reasons to keep them around.
1. Their tunnels benefit roots – As worms burrow through the earth this action allows air and water to reach deeper parts of the soil, allowing the roots of plants that reach deep underground (such as tomatoes) to thrive.
2. They create natural fertiliser – Worms provide a great boost to your soil as they excrete rich granular dark castings full of nutrients. This substance acts as a brilliant fertiliser on your plot.
3. They break down natural material – Any already existing organic matter (such as leaves and grass) can broken down by worms as they work their way through it. This makes it much easier for plants to receive the benefits of these soil boosters.
4. They can be used to make a wormery – buying red worms and introducing them to layers of leftover food and dead plant matter will help to speed up the decomposition process and provide you with rich, crumbly compost.
5. They will never be a threat to your crops – earthworms are only interested in feeding on components of the earth surrounding your plants. They create more fertile soil which is perfect for sowing many types of fruit and veg.
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