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#1
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Interesting worm facts
Some interesting facts for worm denyers. If people still think worms are an
option in their gardens or lawns this will put them right. I was a little surprised by some of the stats quoted here, impressive stuff. It confirms what we all know, to encourage worms have good availability of organic material including organic fertilisers, eliminate or at least reduce dramatically the pesticides and fungicides and easy on the synthetic fertilisers. Kill your worms and kill your soil. Don't be like me who used to dump litres of toxic shit onto my lawn and top it off with a high nitrogen synthetic fertiliser (grass on steroids). Luckily my worms survived my neglect. Some of the worms listed here are NZ residents so you may not get them. http://www.gardenscience.co.nz/soil/...earthworms.htm |
#2
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Interesting worm facts
"George.com" wrote in message ... Some interesting facts for worm denyers. If people still think worms are an option in their gardens or lawns this will put them right. Nobody with any serious interest in the subject has been in any doubt as to the beneficial role of earthworms ever since the publication of "The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms." by Charles Darwin London, John Murray. 1883 i.e. over 120 years ago. Links to the full text of the 7 shortish chapters can be found on here. http://tinyurl.com/m7qw3 for - http://pages.britishlibrary.net/char...uld/mould.html However, just as with the true implications of the work for which Darwin is best known - "On The Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection" 1859, that life serves no real purpose at all other than just well....existing, people also choose to ignore the possible implications of killing off all their earthworms in the hope of avoiding worm casts on their perfect bowling greens, or denying any food to the resident moles who are spoiling their lawns. But then people are just like that, unfortunately. Some of the worms listed here are NZ residents so you may not get them. The only New Zealand worm of any interest to U.K residents are New Zealand flatworms. Cannibals who since their accidental introduction into the U.K have shown a voracious appetite for our native earthworms, while being unpalatable to the likes of predators such as ground beetles and the like. http://flatworm.csl.gov.uk/ Although having just read the link, it seems to got itself a good lawyer and a good agent in the meantime. Nevertheless, I'd stop while I was ahead if I were you. michael adams .... |
#3
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Interesting worm facts
"michael adams" wrote in message ... "George.com" wrote in message ... Some interesting facts for worm denyers. If people still think worms are an option in their gardens or lawns this will put them right. Nobody with any serious interest in the subject has been in any doubt as to the beneficial role of earthworms ever since the publication of "The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms." by Charles Darwin true indeed however some people do not realise how beneficial worms are especially, imo, people who grow lawns and pour all sorts of chemicals on to the lawn and endanger their worms. The only New Zealand worm of any interest to U.K residents are New Zealand flatworms. Cannibals who since their accidental introduction into the U.K have shown a voracious appetite for our native earthworms, while being unpalatable to the likes of predators such as ground beetles and the like. Although having just read the link, it seems to got itself a good lawyer and a good agent in the meantime. Nevertheless, I'd stop while I was ahead if I were you. michael adams we will exchange the flat worm for gorse, thistles, ragwort, rabbits, stoats, weasels, ferrets, possums and wasps. Though not all your you are welcome to them. rob |
#4
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Interesting worm facts
George.com wrote:
Some interesting facts for worm denyers. If people still think worms are an option in their gardens or lawns this will put them right. I was a little surprised by some of the stats quoted here, impressive stuff. It confirms what we all know, to encourage worms have good availability of organic material including organic fertilisers, eliminate or at least reduce dramatically the pesticides and fungicides and easy on the synthetic fertilisers. Kill your worms and kill your soil. Don't be like me who used to dump litres of toxic shit onto my lawn and top it off with a high nitrogen synthetic fertiliser (grass on steroids). Luckily my worms survived my neglect. Some of the worms listed here are NZ residents so you may not get them. http://www.gardenscience.co.nz/soil/...earthworms.htm My new build lawn has very few worms - and I could do with some to improve drainage, and the general condition of the under-soil. Can worms be bougth mail order and simple scattered on the surface ? Or have missed the boat now that the lawn is down and doing well ? |
#5
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Interesting worm facts
"NC" wrote in message news George.com wrote: Some interesting facts for worm denyers. If people still think worms are an option in their gardens or lawns this will put them right. I was a little surprised by some of the stats quoted here, impressive stuff. It confirms what we all know, to encourage worms have good availability of organic material including organic fertilisers, eliminate or at least reduce dramatically the pesticides and fungicides and easy on the synthetic fertilisers. Kill your worms and kill your soil. Don't be like me who used to dump litres of toxic shit onto my lawn and top it off with a high nitrogen synthetic fertiliser (grass on steroids). Luckily my worms survived my neglect. Some of the worms listed here are NZ residents so you may not get them. http://www.gardenscience.co.nz/soil/...earthworms.htm My new build lawn has very few worms - and I could do with some to improve drainage, and the general condition of the under-soil. Can worms be bougth mail order and simple scattered on the surface ? Or have missed the boat now that the lawn is down and doing well ? The worms should colonise your lawn on their own. If this is not the case then bought in worms will not colonise it either. |
#6
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Interesting worm facts
My new build lawn has very few worms - and I could do with some to improve drainage, and the general condition of the under-soil. Can worms be bougth mail order and simple scattered on the surface ? Or have missed the boat now that the lawn is down and doing well ? The worms should colonise your lawn on their own. If this is not the case then bought in worms will not colonise it either. ah, fair enough. Just wait and see then. I have spotted the odd one - hopefully is an indication of a growing underground city ! |
#7
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Interesting worm facts
"George.com" wrote in message ... "michael adams" wrote in message ... "George.com" wrote in message ... Some interesting facts for worm denyers. If people still think worms are an option in their gardens or lawns this will put them right. Nobody with any serious interest in the subject has been in any doubt as to the beneficial role of earthworms ever since the publication of "The Formation of Vegetable Mould, Through the Action of Worms." by Charles Darwin true indeed however some people do not realise how beneficial worms are especially, imo, people who grow lawns and pour all sorts of chemicals on to the lawn and endanger their worms. The only New Zealand worm of any interest to U.K residents are New Zealand flatworms. Cannibals who since their accidental introduction into the U.K have shown a voracious appetite for our native earthworms, while being unpalatable to the likes of predators such as ground beetles and the like. Although having just read the link, it seems to got itself a good lawyer and a good agent in the meantime. Nevertheless, I'd stop while I was ahead if I were you. michael adams we will exchange the flat worm for gorse, thistles, ragwort, rabbits, stoats, weasels, ferrets, possums and wasps. Though not all your you are welcome to them. Wasps are beneficial both as pollinators and as predators of many garden pests. In fact in their own way, they're as beneficial as are earth worms. Ferrets are beneficial to man which is why they're semi-domesticated as they prey on grain eating rodents such as mice. The same probably goes for stoats and weasels which won't submit to semi domestication in similar fashion. Except all are a threat to both poultry and their eggs. You're lucky you don't have mink which can outdo all three of these. Your rabbits are probably from Oz, and date from the day in 1859 when Thomas "Clueless" Austin, released 24 wild rabbits* onto his farm for hunting purposes. hoot michael adams .... rob |
#8
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Interesting worm facts
"NC" wrote in message news George.com wrote: Some interesting facts for worm denyers. If people still think worms are an option in their gardens or lawns this will put them right. I was a little surprised by some of the stats quoted here, impressive stuff. It confirms what we all know, to encourage worms have good availability of organic material including organic fertilisers, eliminate or at least reduce dramatically the pesticides and fungicides and easy on the synthetic fertilisers. Kill your worms and kill your soil. Don't be like me who used to dump litres of toxic shit onto my lawn and top it off with a high nitrogen synthetic fertiliser (grass on steroids). Luckily my worms survived my neglect. Some of the worms listed here are NZ residents so you may not get them. http://www.gardenscience.co.nz/soil/...earthworms.htm My new build lawn has very few worms - and I could do with some to improve drainage, and the general condition of the under-soil. Can worms be bougth mail order and simple scattered on the surface ? Or have missed the boat now that the lawn is down and doing well ? a rough guide to worm activity is to cut a spade cubed (spade L x W x D) block out of your turf and hand count the worms in it. 7 or under per turf block shows a serious worm deficiency. Anything around 23 or over shows excellent numbers. Be aware you may have to sacrifice your sod for this. A handy way to encourage worms is organic matter in the soil. A mulching mower will leave lawn clippings in the soil for the worms. Organic fertilisers such as pelletised animal poop or blood and bone can also help. You could try digging some up from another garden (thats a lot of digging mind) and scattering them across the soil to see if they will take. Depends on what your soil is like and availability of food mind. Work on improving your soil and the worms will come. rob |
#9
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Interesting worm facts
George.com writes
we will exchange the flat worm for gorse, thistles, ragwort, rabbits, stoats, weasels, ferrets, possums and wasps. You didn't get the possums from us. -- Kay |
#10
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Interesting worm facts
George.com wrote:
"NC" wrote in message news George.com wrote: Some interesting facts for worm denyers. If people still think worms are an option in their gardens or lawns this will put them right. I was a little surprised by some of the stats quoted here, impressive stuff. It confirms what we all know, to encourage worms have good availability of organic material including organic fertilisers, eliminate or at least reduce dramatically the pesticides and fungicides and easy on the synthetic fertilisers. Kill your worms and kill your soil. Don't be like me who used to dump litres of toxic shit onto my lawn and top it off with a high nitrogen synthetic fertiliser (grass on steroids). Luckily my worms survived my neglect. Some of the worms listed here are NZ residents so you may not get them. http://www.gardenscience.co.nz/soil/...earthworms.htm My new build lawn has very few worms - and I could do with some to improve drainage, and the general condition of the under-soil. Can worms be bougth mail order and simple scattered on the surface ? Or have missed the boat now that the lawn is down and doing well ? a rough guide to worm activity is to cut a spade cubed (spade L x W x D) block out of your turf and hand count the worms in it. 7 or under per turf block shows a serious worm deficiency. Anything around 23 or over shows excellent numbers. Be aware you may have to sacrifice your sod for this. A handy way to encourage worms is organic matter in the soil. A mulching mower will leave lawn clippings in the soil for the worms. Organic fertilisers such as pelletised animal poop or blood and bone can also help. You could try digging some up from another garden (thats a lot of digging mind) and scattering them across the soil to see if they will take. Depends on what your soil is like and availability of food mind. Work on improving your soil and the worms will come. rob Birds stamping on your lawn are good guides to worms. -- Please do not reply to this Email address, as all Emails are deleted before opened. |
#11
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Interesting worm facts
Broadback wrote: Birds stamping on your lawn are good guides to worms. Although they'll be after anything they can get - grubs etc. In my garden anywhere there has been compost or organic matter there are worms a plenty. Where there isn't anything organic there are no worms. As others say if you put organic material down worms will come. |
#12
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Interesting worm facts
"Broadback" wrote in message ... George.com wrote: "NC" wrote in message news George.com wrote: Some interesting facts for worm denyers. If people still think worms are an option in their gardens or lawns this will put them right. I was a little surprised by some of the stats quoted here, impressive stuff. It confirms what we all know, to encourage worms have good availability of organic material including organic fertilisers, eliminate or at least reduce dramatically the pesticides and fungicides and easy on the synthetic fertilisers. Kill your worms and kill your soil. Don't be like me who used to dump litres of toxic shit onto my lawn and top it off with a high nitrogen synthetic fertiliser (grass on steroids). Luckily my worms survived my neglect. Some of the worms listed here are NZ residents so you may not get them. http://www.gardenscience.co.nz/soil/...earthworms.htm My new build lawn has very few worms - and I could do with some to improve drainage, and the general condition of the under-soil. Can worms be bougth mail order and simple scattered on the surface ? Or have missed the boat now that the lawn is down and doing well ? a rough guide to worm activity is to cut a spade cubed (spade L x W x D) block out of your turf and hand count the worms in it. 7 or under per turf block shows a serious worm deficiency. Anything around 23 or over shows excellent numbers. Be aware you may have to sacrifice your sod for this. A handy way to encourage worms is organic matter in the soil. A mulching mower will leave lawn clippings in the soil for the worms. Organic fertilisers such as pelletised animal poop or blood and bone can also help. You could try digging some up from another garden (thats a lot of digging mind) and scattering them across the soil to see if they will take. Depends on what your soil is like and availability of food mind. Work on improving your soil and the worms will come. rob Birds stamping on your lawn are good guides to worms. or they may simply be having a tantrum because there is no tucker in the lawn for them. rob |
#13
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Interesting worm facts
George.com wrote: [...] Birds stamping on your lawn are good guides to worms. or they may simply be having a tantrum because there is no tucker in the lawn for them. What interests me, though only mildly, is what made you think that a UK gardening newsgroup needed somebody to announce that earthworms are essential in a healthy soil. -- Mike. |
#14
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Interesting worm facts
"Mike Lyle" wrote in message ups.com... George.com wrote: [...] Birds stamping on your lawn are good guides to worms. or they may simply be having a tantrum because there is no tucker in the lawn for them. What interests me, though only mildly, is what made you think that a UK gardening newsgroup needed somebody to announce that earthworms are essential in a healthy soil. what makes me think that people will be interested? I suppose because I found it interesting and I thought others may as well. Because whilst I am a big fan of worms there was stuff on the webpage I did not know. Other people may not have known it either. Because quite often I find useful or interesting info or links provided by users of this newsgroup and I thought this would be interesting and maybe useful for others. And finally, it was only in starting to understand the work worms and other organisms do in the soil that I actively sought to encourage them and look after my soil and gardens. Maybe someone else who didn't know much, reading about the top class work of worms, would actively seek to encourage their development. People on this newsgroup seem to have a diverse knowledge of gardening and garden matters. Some know it all, some are learnign every time they log in. Whilst not wanting to second guess you Mike, I would make these additional comments. Whilst the webpage does mention NZ worms specifically, many of the comments are applicable to worms worldwide. I doubt NZ worms don't realise they are kiwis nor British worms that they are poms. Secondly, many of the people popping in to this newsgroup are not brits. They/we pick up what is applicable to our gardening circumstances and contribute what they/we think may be applicable to yours. I hope that clarifies it for you. rob |
#15
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Interesting worm facts
George.com writes
"Mike Lyle" wrote in message oups.com... George.com wrote: [...] Birds stamping on your lawn are good guides to worms. or they may simply be having a tantrum because there is no tucker in the lawn for them. What interests me, though only mildly, is what made you think that a UK gardening newsgroup needed somebody to announce that earthworms are essential in a healthy soil. what makes me think that people will be interested? That wasn't Mike's question ;-) His question was why did UK gardeners need to be told that worms were good (implication - it's something we know already). I suppose one answer to that would be that every now and again we have people asking how to get rid of worms and worm casts in a lawn, and an occasional poster who gives advice on removing worms from lawns. Whilst not wanting to second guess you Mike, I would make these additional comments. Whilst the webpage does mention NZ worms specifically, many of the comments are applicable to worms worldwide. In terms of numbers of species, I gather that there are few UK imports to NZ, but in terms of numbers of worms, particularly in heavily populated areas, UK imports and the species that have spread worldwide dominate. So there would seem to be a lot of relevance. -- Kay |
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