[Fiona71]

Hello!

Today I took over an allotment and have started to weed and dig over a couple of the beds that were least covered in weeds  :roll:  But my question is this; whilst digging roots out and picking out stones I never saw any worms at all. Now it could be that I just wasn't looking in the right place, but my brother also mentioned the same thing. In fact there didn't seem to be much in the way of bug life, a few slugs, a couple of earwigs, and some weird looking giant maggoty thing that my daughter took the spade to! lol

So if we don't have many worms wriggling about in the soil, then just how bad is my soil and other than using manure which I don't have access to, what do I use to get them in there? Now if this is a really stupid question just ignore me but all help is most appreciated.

Fiona.

[muntjac]

welcome to the gang your not asking stupid questions .you may not have seen any worms as the cold drives them deeper underground as does drought /you can improve the soil by getting horse manure or cows poop but if you are not able then find as many tree leaves as you can and dig these in .any old green stuff .non weedy will do . can you get hold of mustard seed to sow now  or any green type manure .( see green manures in search and glossary )  some people around you may use growbags .ask for these when they have finsihed and dump them on the plot soil .you could go and get some 2 for 1 bales of compost £10 from  BQs add these to the soil  and you can put any other kitchen waste like cabbage leaves etc to a compost bin  its a case now of getting as much fibre etc into the ground .if you do have cows or horse stables  get along there with a few sacks and ask for some .add the horse manure straw and all right now digging it .the cow can be put on top and leached in and then dug over in spring .leave an area for carrots etc as they dont like fresh manured ground  

[Sally A]

Worms tend to migrate to compost heaps, so if you have one, have a look inside, even if it's not all rotted down, the centre may be and you can use this.
Manure is the best way to get them into the soil though so it really is worth contacting stables and the like.

[Fiona71]

Thanks folks for the quick and great replies. Re. the manure situation, I will have to enquire at the equine shop next to the garden centre where the nearest stables are.

Muntjac, you mentioned using leaves. This leads onto another question (you'll soon be wishing that I was quiet! lol). Today as we were getting sorted out I noticed that the tree we have in the plot is a scyamore/maple (not really sure of the difference) and that the leaves that were still on the tree were pretty scabby looking, as were the leaves that had fallen. I think I have found out that its acer tar thats the problem; I came across the description quite by accident. So question; since these leaves are diseased, can I still use them?

Sally, there isn't so much as a compost heap as there is a heap in the corner that has weeds, nettles, brambles and an assortment of other 'things' growing out of it. So getting into it is a bit of a problem at the moment.

Thanks again for the input folks.
Fiona.

[muntjac]

yes you can just mix them with other compostable stuff

[milkman]

hallo fi, it may be worth checking with your plot neighbours whether you are in a New Zealand Flat Worm area, as unfortunately they feed on earthworms - I have a sister with a plot in Edinburgh and they have flatworm there.