They can also disrupt turf maintenance equipment. The casts are unsightly and can interfere with play. However, when they appear on finely manicured turf such as putting greens, fairways and tees, they can become quite a headache, especially in high numbers. Most of the time these casts go unnoticed. Occasionally, this activity creates challenges for golf course maintenance and playability when earthworm populations become high.Īs earthworms feed on the soil particles, they can create mounds of excrement which are referred to as casts or castings. Many spend their time at or near the surface feeding and reproducing. Native and non-native earthworms can be found in soils throughout the United States, including on golf courses, where the perennial crop of turfgrass organic matter provides a continuous food source for hungry earthworms. Lumbricus rubellus, the red earthworm, is a familiar sight in many American gardens, but it’s actually an earthworm from Europe that was most likely introduced via soil from early settlers. Most of the earthworms that dominate our soils here in the U.S. Only a small fraction of that total is native to North America. There are over 7,000 different species of earthworms which are divided into more than 700 genera and 23 families (Edwards, 2021). They are truly movers and shakers when it comes to soils. Earthworms are beneficial for soil aeration, water infiltration, thatch control, nutrient recycling and they can increase microbial activity.
Many people associate earthworms with soil health, and for good reason. Just Google “healthy soil” and you’ll be presented with countless photos of people holding that exact thing. When the average person pictures a healthy soil in their mind, they probably have an image of a loose, dark-colored soil that is somewhat moist and filled with earthworms.
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