Do Earthworms Aerate the Soil?

Earthworms incorporate organic debris into your garden.

Earthworms in your soil are a sure sign of a healthy garden. They open up the soil's structure by digging tunnels and digesting organic material. Adding earthworms will help aerate your soil.

Tunnels in the Soil

In your garden, earthworms will burrow through the top 2 feet of soil. They search for food during the night, ingesting soil for nutrients. The tunnels they form help air penetrate and aerate the soil. Deep-burrowing worms, commonly called nightcrawlers, can build tunnels up to 6 feet long.

Digesting Soil

Each day, earthworms consume their weight in fallen leaves and other organic materials, according to the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension. This turns the organic material into living soil, improving and aerating the soil's structure.

Healthy Soil

Garden soil with many active earthworms is healthy soil. Active worm populations boost plant productivity. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that 500,000 earthworms on 1 acre of land can move up to 5 tons of soil in a year.

References

• Colorado State University: Earthworms: More Than Fish Bait
• Purdue University Extension: Earthworms and Crop Management
• Kansas State University: Earthworms: Six Inch Soil Savers