Jumping worms are becoming a hot topic. And if you haven’t heard of them yet, we’re sure you’ll be hearing more as these little buggers have been confirmed in Goodhue County.
Jumping worms are mostly found in forest floor areas, where leaves and other natural debris decompose, so you’re not likely to find them in open field areas.
Characteristics:
- 1 ½” – 8”plus in length
- Live in the leaf litter in the top few inches of the dirt
- Smooth,white to cloudy ring around body
- Jump or wiggle when disturbed. Can move in an “S” shape across the ground.
So, why are they bad?
The short answer is they break things down too fast and their tailings don’t hold together well. Picture someone dumping coffee grounds in your garden. Creating a less than ideal soil structure, it can lead to erosion problems & plants not being able to survive. There is currently no known jumping worm killer (chemical, natural or predator based), other than maybe birds, but research is ongoing.
How they Spread:
- They spread from soil to soil and garden to garden.
- Plant sharing /swapping between friends and fellow gardeneers is becoming a thing of the past to help combat the spread.
- Buying mulch & compost from the city can be risky as they receive debris from all over, and it may not be heated high enough to heat treat and kill jumping worms.
Our suggestions:
- You are much less likely to get jumping worms from trusted plant suppliers, like Sargent’s Nursery. Our plants come from reputable & inspected suppliers.
- Choose bulk & bagged mulches and soils. These come from suppliers that have their products inspected.
We work hard to prevent jumping worms. If you find jumping worms on your property, they should be killed mechanically and discard in the garbage.