Earthworms in your compost pile are a good sign things are going well, but why are they there in the first place?
Compost soil mix is a good medium for earthworms to flourish in, especially when you make it yourself.
When your original garden soil is fertilized with compost mix, the earthworm population in the compost pile tends to increase over time.
Why?
Well, it’s because the earthworms found in the compost need organic matter to feed on.
A lot of people might discuss it by sight; however, it is a good thing.
When you feed the earthworms organic matter as such in a compost pile, they convert the matter into’vermicompost’, which is a type of compost formed by earthworms feeding on organic matter.
The traditional method of making compost at home is more suitable for making compost on a large scale.
Making compost with earthworms also requires secure areas to prevent them from being decimated by birds, ants, rodents, and other animals.
So, large-scale production of compost piles requires more investment.
Why are worms ideal for compost soil?
As a gardener, you will definitely want to have worms in your compost and throughout your gardens.
Why?
worms in your compost soil help to break down plant matter, including paper, sticks leaves, etc.
The worm’s excrement makes excellent soil that is packed with nutrients that living plants need to grow healthy.
When I start a new compost bin or pile at home, I always go buy a small carton pack of worms from the local bait store.
Then, I add some to the compost pile, and the rest go into the gardens.
Is it normal to have worms in a compost pile?
Yes, it is perfectly normal to have a few earthworms in your homemade compost pile. In fact, the more earthworms in your compost pile, the better your compost will be.
This means you have done a great job and are on the right track.
As mentioned earlier, the worms will help in the breakdown of vegetable matter into good-quality compost.
Also, when your compost is added to your garden, a percentage of the worms will find their way into your garden soil.
This is good for the condition of your traditional garden topsoil. It’s what worms were put on this Earth to do.
How do you know if your compost pile is healthy?
When worms are in your compost pile, not only is it normal, but it also tells you that your compost is healthy.
The worms just help take the compost to the next level for you to use.
If we look closely at how the microbes break down the compost, the worms digest organic matter, resulting in poop, and the worms poop out wonderful fertilizer in the soil that smells as sweet as a baby’s powdered bottom.
If you have worms in your compost pile, you have gold.
Benefits of Having Worms in Your Compost Pile?
One of the benefits of having worms in your compost is that they love and thrive off of it.
They also help aerate and decompose it in a compost pile. Many gardeners also purchase worms to put in their composting bins if there are no signs of worms there.
Another benefit of having worms in the compost is that it is a sign of good, healthy compost to make a nice supplement for your garden.
I have noticed that many people raise worms to put in their compost and also have special worm houses.
These worm houses are able to catch the urine excrement liquid, aka worm tea, from the worms to put in the garden since it’s rich in nutrients and works as a good natural fertilizer.
Some people will take old broken refrigerators and turn them into worm palaces. With this, they have chest freezers that drain the best.
There are lots of videos online on how to make one. If it were me, I’d read several of them, as I’m very sure each person has their own style and way to make them and could offer different insights to making the best worm tea brewer.
Types Of Compost Worm To Look For
These are the types of composting worms you will come across when making your own compost at home in the yard.
Traditional Compost worms
These worms are typically small red brandling worms and stripey red tiger worms.
They are common in compost. Their main purpose is to devour the garden waste and poop out beneficial waste.
Too many worms appearing on the topsoil of the compost pile may indicate the compost is too wet. You can reduce the moisture level in the compost pile by taking the lid off and adding more brown materials.
Small White Pot Worms
The small white pot worms are less common in compost and multiply in acidic conditions.
However, if there is a great number, you can add more brown material to create a better balance.
Larger Grey or Pink Worms
These types of worms have a distinctive saddle on their bodies. It looks more like an orange ring and is less common in compost piles.
However, they normally hang out at the bottom of the compost, where there is more soil, which they eat.
Conclusion
So the question comes down to, ”Is it normal to have worms in your compost?”
Well, the overall answer is that worms are what make the compost; they eat the vegetable peelings, etc., and their poop is the result of the compost.
This may sound gross to a lot of people; however, the compost has no smell.
When I first started my compost piles, I bought a couple of containers of red worms that are used for fish bait to get them kick-started.
While using the compost, some of those worms got transferred to my garden soil.
Overall, they are helpful and make good, rich soil with more healthy worms.
Just make sure that wild animals such as chickens don’t get in the garden, scratch, and eat up all the worms.
