The earthworm is indisputably a valuable beneficial in the garden.
Especially in spring, however, the active animal can cause trouble for the lawn.
The earthworm is quite harmless, isn't it?
In and of itself, the animal in the garden is an important and almost indispensable creature, just as it loosens and fertilizes the earth.
But that's exactly where the problem lies in spring.
If the earthworm then multiplies when the soil temperatures are warmer and digs up the lawn, it damages the dear green, which is literally not up to these activities at this time of the year.
Earthworm heaps in the lawn: They damage the grass in the spring
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If you value an evenly green lawn, you should remove earthworm heaps in spring.
© Ardea/Imago
The list of their good deeds is long: up to 100 earthworms per square meter of soil loosen the soil for plant roots, aerate the soil, dig up nutrients from the bottom up and prevent waterlogging.
The beneficial insects also eat old leaves.
And finally, they push their dung piles to the surface.
This particularly high-quality soil mixed with fungi and bacteria is a better fertilizer than compost.
The more earthworms, the better the soil quality.
Earthworms are a boon, especially for heavy, wet soil.
They are particularly active at soil temperatures of ten to 15 degrees.
If, after their winter rest phase, they become increasingly active in digging in the ground under the lawn and eating dead grass, they may form so many heaps of excrement that the grass underneath is literally suffocating, explains the Bavarian Garden
Academy
.
Because the lawn itself is not yet strong enough in early spring.
This can lead to bare patches appearing in the grass, where weeds later take over.
You should therefore remove excess manure and distribute it elsewhere - after all, the soil is a very good fertilizer.
The same applies if the animals are particularly productive during the year.
You can find even more exciting garden topics in the regular newsletter of our partner 24garten.de.
Good lawn care is particularly important in the spring
The ground is often compacted after winter due to cold and snow.
To keep your lawn strong and green, good care is important, which should start in the spring.
To do this, first remove old leaves and twigs from the meadow and loosen the soil a little with a rake.
The area can be fertilized for the first time from March.
Coffee grounds as a natural fertilizer: 11 plants that love it
Coffee grounds as a natural fertilizer: 11 plants that love it
As soon as the stalks are about seven centimeters long, but no earlier than two weeks after the first fertilization, it is time to mow the lawn.
Then you can scarify the grass and remove moss and lichen.
But you shouldn't overdo it, so as not to damage the delicate green more deeply.
List of rubrics: © Ardea/Imago
