Asian jumping worms certainly are a destructive pest that devour organic matter at a ravenous pace and degrade the soil—and are not easy to eliminate.
Adult jumping worms die after the first freeze, but the cocoons they leave behind will survive the winter and new worms will emerge after temperatures reach 50°F for a consistent period of time.
There is ongoing research into the use of abrasive materials such as biochar (ground-up charcoal) and diatomaceous earth in your soil that show some promise in killing adult jumping worms. You can try incorporating these into the soil at a level where the worms live.
When it comes to reducing the adult worm population, you should handpick them, place them in a bag, and throw them in the trash. If you know of certain locations where they live, you can pour a solution of 1/3 ground mustard seed and 1 gallon of water on the area. The solution will drive the worms to the surface where you can remove them.
It is also important to destroy the cocoons to prevent the cycle of life from continuing. In the late spring or early summer, you can cover infested areas with a sheet of transparent polyethylene for 2 to 3 weeks or until the soil temperature exceeds 104°F for at least 3 days. The soil areas should be moist when laying down the plastic.
It will take time and diligence to tackle this pest problem, but it’s the only way to help rid your gardens of these unwanted guests.
Asian jumping worms certainly are a destructive pest that devour organic matter at a ravenous pace and degrade the soil—and are not easy to eliminate.
Adult jumping worms die after the first freeze, but the cocoons they leave behind will survive the winter and new worms will emerge after temperatures reach 50°F for a consistent period of time.
There is ongoing research into the use of abrasive materials such as biochar (ground-up charcoal) and diatomaceous earth in your soil that show some promise in killing adult jumping worms. You can try incorporating these into the soil at a level where the worms live.
When it comes to reducing the adult worm population, you should handpick them, place them in a bag, and throw them in the trash. If you know of certain locations where they live, you can pour a solution of 1/3 ground mustard seed and 1 gallon of water on the area. The solution will drive the worms to the surface where you can remove them.
It is also important to destroy the cocoons to prevent the cycle of life from continuing. In the late spring or early summer, you can cover infested areas with a sheet of transparent polyethylene for 2 to 3 weeks or until the soil temperature exceeds 104°F for at least 3 days. The soil areas should be moist when laying down the plastic.
It will take time and diligence to tackle this pest problem, but it’s the only way to help rid your gardens of these unwanted guests.