Worm Digest - Re:Chemical for worm gathering.

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1) General Earthworm Discussion Forum

Log_bsu
User

A Fertile Cocoon

Posts: 2

Chemical for worm gathering. - 2008/03/20 10:29 Hi there, I am an Assistant Superintendant in the Pacific Northwest. We have problems with worm castings in a few areas, mainly on a couple smaller tee boxes. I have been thinking of ways to remove the worms and remember as a kid with my dad using some sort of chemical to bring the worms to the surface to then be removed. As we can recall the chemical was pink in color and we added a small amount to a large trash can of water and dumped it on the ground and within minutes the worms came to the surface to be picked. Do any of you know the name of this product and if so where it can be purchased? Since our casting issue is isolated to a few areas manual picking might help for a while, especially prior to major tournaments. Thanks.

Post edited by: Log_bsu, at: 2008/03/21 00:20

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geordier
User

A Juvenile Earthworm

Posts: 37

Re:Chemical for worm gathering. - 2008/03/20 16:22 Why don't you just brush the castings into the tee boxes and water them in?
You'll find that your tees keep green for longer and you won't have to water them as much.
The fact that you have worms and castings means that your soil is in good condition and since tee boxes are very high traffic areas with big damage areas, you'll not want to repair often. Castings will help any new turf or seed to take hold much quicker.
My golf course clients are encouraging worms on the tees and fairways, as they want good colour, strength and quick repair of grass and soils. We use castings as a top dressing 2 time a year and the courses look great.
I don't think you'll get much help from a forum dedicated to worms if you want to get rid of them.
Hope this helps. George
Co. Armagh
Northern Ireland
"we're Not Brasil....."

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gnosnhoj

User

A Protected Species Earthworm

Posts: 544

Re:Chemical for worm gathering. - 2008/03/20 22:20 geordier wrote:
...I don't think you'll get much help from a forum dedicated to worms if you want to get rid of them.

Reckon not. They belong there; Big Berthas, not so much.
I'm in agreement with geordier's suggestions.
There is a golf-course maintenance guru (GR8) over at http://thegardenforums.org/viewforum.php?f=42 also who has done a lot with avct. Imagine he could provide some more 'professional guidance' that doesn't involve death or removal. Y'all have fun, whatever you're doing.
Gary
Hopkinsville, KY

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Log_bsu
User

A Fertile Cocoon

Posts: 2

Re:Chemical for worm gathering. - 2008/03/21 00:18 Thanks for both of your responses. We don't mind the worms either as a whole and I am familiar with their usefullness in accordance with soil conditioning. However; a large number of castings in a small area causes issues. I see you're not from the pacific northwest, but this is an increasing problem up here and in fact an article has been written on this website about aiding golf courses with this problem, "Earthworm casting creates maintenance nightmare" 7/1/1999 Grounds Maintenance By Paul Backman.
We aren't looking to kill the worms. I would love to collect them and move them to another location on the course that could use the soil amendment. We mow our tees often, but the amount of castings is actually causing turf loss and poor playing conditions. I just wanted to know if anyone had heard of this chemical that didn't kill the worms, just made them rise to the surface to be harvested.

Post edited by: Log_bsu, at: 2008/03/21 00:26

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wormwrangler

User

A Juvenile Earthworm

Posts: 31

Re:Chemical for worm gathering. - 2008/03/22 03:25 You know they migrate to fill in the empty areas? Soon as you clear them out some new ones will wander back in. It will take time, but they will come back LOL.

I really dont like killing the worms, but do know a good way to get them to come up in a hurry, and alive.

Take a long extension cord and attach a couple of larger screw drivers to the leads on one end. Split the screwdrivers about 6 feet apart, stick them down into the soil and connect to a car battery. The worms will come dancing to the top in a hurry, just remember to disconnect before gathering up the worms.

You have to be fast cause they will try to get back in the soil fairly quickly. This is an old trick we used to gather worms for fishing. We dont do it anymore cause the worms we are growing are much better than the ones in the dirt

Worm Wrangler

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Dean_W
User

A Juvenile Earthworm

Posts: 56

Re:Chemical for worm gathering. - 2008/03/22 11:24

Car battery! Dean
Cedar Park, TX

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sauce man

User

A Juvenile Earthworm

Posts: 43

Re:Chemical for worm gathering. - 2008/03/24 10:29 We used to flood an area for a couple of hours with a sprinkler, than at dark with dimly lit flashlights quietly walk through the area and collect them by hand. Y ou have to be quick because they always had thier tail part way in the hole. Also have you tried to remove the grass clippings when cutting this eliminates what they enjoy most....DINNER. Ive also heard certain types of salt can be used in an area to discourage habitation but I dont know what this will do to your greens.

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