Benefits of Earthworms.

[mercedesguy]

Are there any studies or does anyone have
experience of adding earthworms to soil
both in garden and container grown plants?

[Gardeneer]

I don't know about any study but EW digest things like leaves and poo worm casting. They also aerate the soil.

Gardeneer

[b54red]

To keep a good population of earthworms you need several things. You need to keep the soil moist and cool so a good heavy protective mulch is very helpful. They need something to eat. I have found that all you have to do is add a lot of cottonseed meal and alfalfa pellets to your beds before each season and no chemical dry fertilizers then put down a heavy mulch and keep adequately watered and you will have worms. Adding good compost helps also. I did find years ago that adding large amounts of dry chemical fertilizers would destroy the worm population after a few seasons. I found no problems using Miracle Grow which is applied with a lot of water. At the end of the season when I rake up my mulch to get the beds ready for fall and winter crops I find a nice thick layer of worm castings just under the mulch and an abundance of worms. Sure I kill plenty of them when I turn the beds but there must be a lot that make it through the tilling because each year it seems I get more.

Bill

[Antipodean]

I don't really don't think you need to add earth worms, if you have enough organic matter they will come all by themselves.

It's like the movie Field of Dreams - build it and they will come