Above and below, you can see the remnants of earthworms, namely their castings. When population numbers get high enough, they can become a real nuisance. However, earthworms are extremely beneficial as they provide a source of aeration to the turf and add beneficial organic material to the soil. Killing earthworms is against the law but there is a product called Early Bird fertilizer, an organic 3-0-1 analysis, that irritates the skin of the worms, causing them to surface. Once they are above ground, they can be relocated. It is also a great time to harvest fishing bait. As a result, the muddy castings are no longer an issue until the population builds back up. The key to successful earthworm surfacing: applying the fertilizer no more than 24 hours before receiving 3/4" of rain. This ensures the fertilizer moves into the soil to come in contact with the worms.
Below, wildflowers tend to be very attractive this time of year as Goldenrod and other species are in full bloom.
