Earthworms in the Lawn
Earthworms love sod. Gardeners who dig into a lawn to expand flower and vegetable beds discover dozens of wriggling earthworms in each shovelful. This is because grass, similar to earthworms, enjoys loamy soil. Does this Spark an idea?
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Numbers
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About 1 million earthworms live in an acre of soil, according to The Christian Science Monitor. This number might triple for soils covered with grass as indicated by government figures from New Zealand that calculate 900 earthworms per square meter of pasture, which would equal more than 3 million per acre.
Function
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Grass grows best in loam, a loose soil that contains fine bits of organic matter and rock particles, such as lime. Earthworms contribute to the loamy quality of soil as they burrow, consuming and excreting the dirt in compost-like castings. The website grasstools.com notes that their tunnels make grass growth easier by creating room for roots and passages for air and water.
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Significance
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Plentiful earthworms near the surface of turf indicate the soil is healthy and doesn't need lots of amendments like chemical fertilizers, according to grasstools.com. They also indicate good chemical balance. Grass prefers a slightly acid soil. Earthworm castings gradually equalize the acidity and alkalinity of soil.
Considerations
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Earthworm tunnels make the surface of turf bumpy over time, but regular raking and mechanical aeration helps decrease this problem.
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References
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