Not disgusting at all, but useful - earthworms are real heroes in the garden. Here's why earthworms are so important to our beds.
Small, slippery, unappetizing - worms are not exactly the prettiest creatures to be found in our gardens. Many people even find the small animals really disgusting and would like to ban them from their garden. But that's not a good idea: Despite their inconspicuous appearance, earthworms (Lumbricidae) - like the common earthworm (Lubricus terrestis) - are invaluable for a he althy garden. The worms are especially good for the soil. An old French peasant saying says: "God knows how to make fertile soil, and he has revealed his secret to the earthworms." We reveal the advantages of the little creatures for our soil and why they should not be missing in any garden you here.
1. Earthworms as garbage collectors
A common misconception is that earthworms feed on soil and dirt. In fact, the favorite food of worms is something completely different: plants. But don't worry, the earthworm doesn't attack the good lawn or the expensive roses, but tidies up the garden properly, because its menu consists mainly of rotting plant remains. The nocturnal worm likes to pull leaves, green clippings and dead plants into its burrow, thereby boosting the composting of plant waste.
Garden waste and leaves rot much faster in a garden with lots of earthworms than in a garden without the little helpers. Above all, the compost earthworm (Eisenia fetida) is a real miracle weapon when it comes to recycling green waste: it reliably transforms garden waste into practical compost, and because of its ability it is even sold and placed in compost heaps.
2. Fertilization by the earthworms
If you eat a lot, you have to go to the toilet - this is also the case with earthworms. But actually the small piles,that bother so many lawn lovers, a real boon for the garden. After the digestion of leaves and other organic substances, it is not the remains of ordinary soil that remain, but highly concentrated components of plant-available nutrients. In fact, worm droppings contain almost five times more nitrogen, seven times more phosphate and even eleven times more potassium than regular garden soil, making it perfect as a fertilizer. But not only the plants benefit from the excretions, the soil also benefits from the earthworm droppings. This consists of particularly fine humus particles that form so-called clay-humus complexes. These ensure a better and more stable soil structure and are perfect for binding and storing the minerals that the earthworm also releases. As a result, the nutrients remain in the soil for a long time and have a long-term effect on plant nutrition.
3. Earthworms improve soil structure
Earthworms are not only known for their looks and good fertilizer, but also for their ability to dig tunnels. What doesn't sound particularly spectacular at first actually has a decisive effect on the structure of the soil: since the small tubes are specially lined by the earthworm, they are extremely stable and also conduct air and water into deeper layers of the soil. The better aeration of the soil stimulates the decomposition of plant material in the deeper layers of the earth. Since oxygen, which plays a crucial role in numerous spoilage processes, often does not penetrate these layers of soil, the decomposition of organic material in many layers of soil occurs only slowly.
Through the burrows of the earthworms, these layers are also sufficiently supplied with air and the dead plant parts can be decomposed better. But water also penetrates the soil much better through the smaller tubes - this significantly minimizes the risk of waterlogging. At the same time, the water remains in the soil much longer due to the so-called sponge effect and the soil dries out more slowly during periods of drought.
4. Mixing by the busy worms
While we're on the subject of earthworm burrows, let's not forget another important aspect of earthworms: the little burrowsnot only ensure good ventilation, but also ensure that the soil is thoroughly mixed. Soils are often divided into many different layers, which differ in various properties - such as their structure, but also in the content of certain nutrients. When digging and eating, some species of the small worms build burrows that reach up to 2 m deep into the ground. They mix the different layers together. For example, they pull leaves deep into the earth where there is hardly any organic material left. At the same time, they bring valuable minerals with them from the deeper layers, which prove to be excellent fertilizers for the plants on the surface. This mixing of the soil changes the soil structure for the better and remains fertile and stable over longer periods of time.
5. Minimize soil erosion with earthworms
Sandstorms not only occur in deserts and on tropical islands, but have also become a reality in Germany. Wind, water and weather take their toll on our soil and, in the worst case, carry it to another place. Above all, soil erosion by water does not stop at hobby gardeners and wears away parts of the precious upper layer of soil year after year. The result: with each new shower, soil fertility deteriorates. Fortunately, there is a savior - studies show that earthworms can significantly reduce erosion. On the one hand this is due to the improved soil structure and stability, but on the other hand also to the long earthworm burrows. This allows the water to seep into the ground and not run off above ground, which could take valuable soil with it. At the same time, the clay-humus complexes bind the valuable minerals and nutrients so well that they are not washed out by the rain. This is how the earthworm ensures that the soil in our garden remains fertile for a long time.
If you are now wondering how you can attract as many earthworms as possible to your garden, then there is an important keyword to mention: sustainable gardening. Chemicals in the soil logically drive away the useful little animals, which is why you should definitely use organic products in the garden that are as gentle as possible on plants, animals and the environment. You can also make the difference when it comes to fertilizing by using organic long-term fertilisers, such as our Plantura organic fertilisers.