Sorry hit the wrong button lol. Yesterday I dug up a Geranium Rosanne to plant elsewhere when I noticed a large worm entangled in the roots which were also compacted with soil and tightly knitted together. I left it for a while on the soil hoping the worm would wriggle away, when I went back it was still entangled so I got a bit of twig and carefully poked the compacted soil away and eventually and gently pulled the roots apart. Mr worm slowly wriggled out and escaped into the soil. I felt rather pleased with myself but my other half think I'm nuts. What do you think ?
"Earthworms
like moist soil. They can survive in dry soils but they are not active.
However if the drought is severe, they will die. In dry conditions, they
can burrow deep into the soil to 1 metre, tie themselves in a knot, secrete
a coating of mucous about themselves which dries and helps prevent water
loss"
I think it's mad you used a stick If you grasp the worm and pull GENTLY it will try to pull itself back in, but as it relaxes to try again it'll come out a little bit, don't pull any harder just keep a light pressure on it and it will actually work it's own way out. Once released plop it back in the hole.
We were cutting some self seeded plum trees down yesterday since we're trying to turn the area into something the lawn mower can tame we are cutting them flush with the ground. to avoid blunting the saw any faster then absolutely necessary this means pushing some soil out of the way with a boot, and right where the saw was going was a little worm, my OH made sure I moved it before it got murdered! We have 1000's of the things but no need to kill more than the spade/plough already does.
Yes, I'm sure the worm would manage to find its own way out.
I’ve always wondered, when I’ve dug up those little worm balls in hard dry earth, how they get into that shape. There’s never a tunnel or any sort of airsac left in the soil around them.
Apophthegm - a big word for a small thought. If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
Harmony, l know what you mean. If l accidentally uncover a worm, l cover it back up with soil while muttering "Quick, hide" so the birds don't get it 😁 If l find a ladybird whilst pruning, and it's on a leaf that l'm removing, l will put it on something covered with aphids , and say "Go on, have a go at that". Nothing wrong with me, it's everyone else 😎
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Yesterday I dug up a Geranium Rosanne to plant elsewhere when I noticed a large worm entangled in the roots which were also compacted with soil and tightly knitted together. I left it for a while on the soil hoping the worm would wriggle away, when I went back it was still entangled so I got a bit of twig and carefully poked the compacted soil away and eventually and gently pulled the roots apart. Mr worm slowly wriggled out and escaped into the soil. I felt rather pleased with myself but my other half think I'm nuts. What do you think ?
They do that to stay moist.
Quote link below....
"Earthworms like moist soil. They can survive in dry soils but they are not active. However if the drought is severe, they will die. In dry conditions, they can burrow deep into the soil to 1 metre, tie themselves in a knot, secrete a coating of mucous about themselves which dries and helps prevent water loss"
https://openlearning.une.edu.au/LivingSoils/LivingSoils/module01/earthworm.htm
http://plot7wildlife.blogspot.com/2013/05/knotty-earthworms.html
I’ve always wondered, when I’ve dug up those little worm balls in hard dry earth, how they get into that shape. There’s never a tunnel or any sort of airsac left in the soil around them.
If you live in Derbyshire, as I do.
If l accidentally uncover a worm, l cover it back up with soil while muttering "Quick, hide" so the birds don't get it 😁
If l find a ladybird whilst pruning, and it's on a leaf that l'm removing, l will put it on something covered with aphids , and say "Go on, have a go at that".
Nothing wrong with me, it's everyone else 😎