Adding worms to mulch

15 years ago

Please help me here with a few questions.

I built a new leaf container this year. 14' diameter and 4' high made of fence posts and chain link fence. Right now it has 185 bags of leaves in it but it is settling in fast and I'll soon add another 50. Leaves and leaf mold is where I find most worms most often around my house. Can I add worms to the pile and have reasonable expectations that they will remain in there?

Can worms survive on just leaves and some grass mixed in? I've found worms up in a rotting tree trunk so they must like decaying wood.

If I add food to the pile, will they find it? I don't want to add enough to draw other critters.

Can an open pile such as this be to moist?

I mostly want the worms to do their part to add manure to my compost. Will it work?

Thanks, MP

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Comments (3)

beebiz1960
15 years ago
Hey MP,

You can add worms to outdoor compost piles. Whether or not they stay will be determined by whether or not the conditions in the compost is to their liking or not. They can definately survive on leaves mixed with grass clippings. And, they will find the food if you add it to the compost.

That said, there are some things to consider when putting the worms into a compost pile.

First, having your worms in an outdoor compost pile makes it easy for birds and other worm connoisseurs to get to them... unless you make it "critter proof."

Next, when you add things to the compost pile, make sure it is done in such a manner that the pile doesn't get too hot and cook the worms. Make sure they have an area of the pile to get into and get away from the heat.

Next, adding food to the compost IS GOING TOO draw other critters. I simply have not been able to find a way around this without having it in a container that is sealed. Even then, some varmits have a nose that can sniff out those tasty, rotting food morsels.

Finally, will the compost pile offer enough protection to keep the worms from freezing in the winter? If not, something will have to be done to protect them.

As for your question about the possibility of the pile getting too damp for the worms, I am sure it is possible... especially if you have several days of torrential downpours. And, even if that happens, you would be surprised how much moisture worms can tolerate provided they have a good air flow.

I hope this helps. And, maybe someone else will come in with more suggestions.

Good luck,
Robert
kossetx
Original Author
15 years ago
Robert, Thanks! The pile is mostly cool. There are a few warm spots but mostly it is leaves and therefor cool.

I don't think freezing is a problem. It rarely makes it into the mid 20's here and the size of the pile should ward off freeze IMO. I'm also not too worried about the worms escaping because I have no worms so they must not like this soil to well. Do they live in sandy soil?

As far as birds, again I hope the size of the pile will fix that. The birds can have some. "Coons may be a broblem though. The fence will keep armadillos out. I've also been thinking of a cover to keep too much rain out. Maybe that will help too.

Thanks again.
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A compost bin and a worm bin are two different things. Many of us have both. What you are suggesting sounds like some sort of hybrid and it won't work for a variety of reasons. If you are going to spend the money for a pound of worms, you probably want to give them the best environment for survival, which is not a bed of compost. See the vermicomposting forum (starting with the FAQs) for info on how to set up a bin, and then search it for 'Kelly Slocum' (former expert poster) for the very best info on worm care. You'll also find info and photos of the types of worm species (usually red wigglers) that are used for worm bins. I have a compost bin with a solid plastic bottom on a large patch of aspalt because that's the space I have available. There are no worms in my bin during the hot phase because it's too hot for them. But during the cold phase, I have quite a few worms in the bins. I don't know exactly how they get there, but somehow they manage. I do know that they can slip through extremely small spaces, like fine netting. So I think you also will have some worms find their way into your compost bins if it is cool and moist enough.
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No, I am in USDA zone 8a, central Texas. The Heat Zone is 10, which distinguishes me from the PNW, where I used to live, which is also USDA zone 8a. (USDA zones are actually very poor metrics for summer gardening conditions.) I live on a half-acre lot that is almost entirely covered in trees. Mostly live oak (no leaves from them), but otherwise cottonwood and cedar elm. Neighbor has a huge red oak whose leaves blow over my way. The leaves start to fall in December and I'm raking them up pretty continuously for three or four months. I get about 30 55 gallon cans of leaves which I cart off to the back yard to put them in piles that I mow. Three or four cans of compressed leaves make a nice mowable pile, and each makes a 4 cubic foot pile of shredded leaves. Just this season, I've worked about five such piles. After saturating the piles of shredded leaves with water, they chug along at 120-130F for a while whence I turn and mix, and they chug along some more. Compost is in pretty good shape in a month or two. Mean outdoor temp is about 60F. My kitchen compost goes in a separate yard wide pit. I throw some shredded leaves on that pit once in a while and stir occasionally. Because it's a pit, rather than a pile, the composting tends to be more thorough.
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beebiz1960
15 years ago
Hey MP,

Worms can not live in pure sand. However, they can live in sandy soil if there is sufficient organic matter for them to eat. Pure sand does not contain such matter and changes temps and moisture levels too quick for them.

I just went back and re-read your original post. And, I noticed that you said the bin is 14 feet in diameter. When I read it last night, I thought you said the bin was 14 inches in diameter! I wondered how you got so many leaves in such a small bin! :>D But, my tired mind dismissed it.

I'm sure the birds will do some scratching around in the bin. But, I don't think they will get many of your worms! The main time that I can think of when the worms will be "exposed" to the birds is when you "stir" things up. The birds will soon learn that there is an easy meal right after you have been to the bin. And, they will quickly swoop in to grab what they can. But, since worms don't like to be exposed to the light, most of them should quickly scurry back under the covers!

Good luck to you,
Robert

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Adding worms to mulch

Comments (3)

beebiz1960

kossetx
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Adding worms to mulch

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beebiz1960

kossetxOriginal Author

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kossetx
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