Return to the Soil Forum
| Post a Follow-Up
Pile on hard DG--no worms!
| | |
Posted by
schreber_gaertner Ca 9/10 (
My Page) on
Sat, Aug 21, 10 at 23:11
| We've been at our new place two months now and I'm excited to be back into gardening and composting. My piles are in a very convenient place next to the garden, but below the raised wall, which allows for dumping in a wheelbarrow from above. The problem (if it's a problem) is that where the bins are is on very hard packed decomposed granite. My oldest pile is now cool and curing, and when I've had piles in the past on soil, at this stage I've had thousands of red wigglers. Is it just a matter of time for them to find their way up through the hard DG, or am I going to have to resign myself to wormless piles? I'd consider buying some, except I'm philosophically opposed to spending money on anything in the piles, and I'd probably get the wrong kinds of worms anyway. And of course they die.
Thanks! |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Pile on hard DG--no worms!
| | |
| Even though earthworm activity all around my compost piles is very extensive I seldom see any in the compost until it is plunked onto the garden beds, possibly because my compost is simply not moist enough for them to exist in. Earthworms need a fairly moist environment but not one too wet. |
RE: Pile on hard DG--no worms!
| | |
| I'm thinking that 2 months is probably too short a time to populate composte pile with worms and DG isn't their favorite hang out. Re: populating a pile with worms. I got the starter worms for what has become a very large worm pit, from a load of horse manure. Now they are every where in my yard. kimmsr is correct, worms gravitate toward moisture. After our rainy winter, when I havested my cold-compost pile, it was full of worms. I can't say that I recall so many befre. BTW .. know what you mean about aversion to buying stuff for the compost pile. On the other hand, a few worms would sure more than repay you their cost as they reproduce. If you are in SD county, I will gladly give you a 'gob of wrigglers' to populate your compost/garden. |
RE: Pile on hard DG--no worms!
| | |
| Thanks, Barb! I'm actually in OC, but find my way south from time to time. I'll keep your offer in mind! |
RE: Pile on hard DG--no worms!
| | |
| Update--those guys are resourceful! All my piles are now chock-full of great looking earthworms! They found their way in there somehow! |
RE: Pile on hard DG--no worms!
| | |
RE: Pile on hard DG--no worms!
| | |
| I've found red wigglers in my bird bath and in the rain gutters on my house. I think they'll have no problem finding your compost pile. |
RE: Pile on hard DG--no worms!
| | |
| We used to have one of those blue backyard pools, but DD wouldn't swim in it because we would find red wigglers in it every day. |
RE: Pile on hard DG--no worms!
| | |
schreber_gaertner,
Get a shovel.....Quick... Move the compost pile off of the DG, your worms are going to get Radon Poisioning AARRGGGHHHH ;-) |
Post a Follow-Up
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in.
If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Soil Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
