Notice the lowly earthworm, squirming away, going about its everyday business. Straightforward creatures you'll think but they have quite an important use in the garden. Were you aware the earthworms are nature's first gardeners? They do not exist purely for youngsters to eat and fishermen to use as bait : ) Some Basic Earthworm Facts Earthworms are present in nearly every kind of soil but the more fit the soil the bigger the numbers. Their full skin soaks up oxygen and releases carbon-dioxide. They also need moisture to help them in respiration but too much moisture isn't good for them.
There are 4 types of earthworm that you'll run into : Nightcrawlers : eight to ten inches long and the fisherman's favorite. Dung Worms : four to five inches long and found in manure rich soils. Red Worms : three to 4 inches long and the most commercially available. Why Earthworms in the Garden? A garden without earthworms would lose out on all the great benefits that they bring to it.
Their first job is to until the soil by tunneling thru it. Tunnels made permit air and moisture to pass simply thru the soil, making a healthy environment for plants. Tunnels retain water the plants can take up and also hold air to help bacteria break down organic material inside the soil. It improves properties of the soil like porosity and moisture retention, assists plant expansion helping in the war against pests and illnesses. Earthworms cannot get too much of the stuff.and will seek it out wherever they can find it.
Earthworms are as much a gardener as you are. It could be doubted whether there are a lot of other animals which have played so significant a part in the history of the Earth, as have these lowly arranged creatures.
