I came across an old booklet in a thrift store this week. It's called What Every Gardener Should Know About Earthworms by Dr. Henry Hopp (Garden Way Associates 1978). It got me to thinking about the role earthworms play in soil quality.
What role does the earthworm play in soil quality for the farmer or the gardener? To understand this we need to understand the lifecycle of the worm. The little worms hatch in the fall, so as winter approaches there are mature worms, little worms and worm eggs in the soil. If the soil is left unprotected from the cold, many of the worms will die. Compost, wheat straw or a mulch of dead grass and weeds makes suitable protective coverings. These materials are at the same time a source of organic food for the earthworms over winter. Additionally, provided with protection, the soil is in much better condition in the spring because of the growth and activity of the worms over the fall and winter months. I thought compost and mulch were to help my plants. I had no idea I was helping my earthworms even in the non-growing season by this protective cover.
Mary Wilkins, Smith County Master Gardener
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