Worm Casts on Sports Pitches Challenge

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Worm Casts on Sports Pitches Challenge is a blog where we unpack the findings of a poll that was answered with 400 plus votes from turf professionals on how worm casts affect their own site. In this blog l unpack the pros and cons and look at available options.

Are Worms Bad?

Worms themselves are great for the soil and bring many benefits, such as creating drainage routes, stimulate microbe activity, break down soil textures. They help control thatch and sure much more, but as working turf professional the problems for most outweigh the benefits.

Sports from where votes came from!

• Bowls 25%
• Winter Sports 15.9%
• Cricket 42%
• Multi Sports 17.1%

What’s the Problem with Worm Casts then?

Based on over 140 votes in our poll, across multi-sport voters

• Unsightly 6% of a concern to voters
• Smearing/Burying of Grass 52%
• Stops rain infiltration 4.2 %
• Castes collect on mower units 7.8 %
• A mix of the above 29%

I was surprised by this as l think the popular misconception from outside the industry is that turf professionals just don’t like the look of casts and actually have no impact on us.

Smearing of grass during the months where grass is growing very slowly and probably can’t push its way through is not good news for a turf professional or end user. These smeared casts in my mind creates a barrier for water infiltration and in turn a poorer draining pitch and if the grass is growing enough to pull through the casts, you’re possibly losing more grass plants by smothering.

Cast collection on mower units is less of a concern but we also need to factor in these casts getting into our cylinders and as a result are grinding down our reels, just pointing that out as came to mind as l write. 

I think you could add smeared worm casts can create bare areas, which are ideal for weed and moss to establish and if casts left over time can seriously affect surface levels.

Casting worms can also dilute down loam, with less suitable sub soil.

Management of Worm Casts?

Based on our poll results this is how turf professional (multi sports) manages worm casts!

• Cultural (brushing/drag matt etc) 42%
• Acidifiers 11.2%
• Live with them 15%
• Off label products such as Saponins 30.8%

It’s great news that cultural methods are being used, but also need to bear in mind that 25% of those who voted are bowls clubs where their soil is sandier in nature, so cultural brushing though time consuming does work well as dispersing casts so is a option.

On the other hand, on a cricket/tennis court using a loam consisting of around 30% clay, disbursement of casts unless the casts are extremely dry is quite the challenge especially in our damp/cold Autumn/Winters. Cricket squares can sit damp on the leaf for days, those windy dry days where some disbursement is possible is probably few and far between. 

Six Benefits of Brushing Sports Pitches, Read HERE

Community Challenges

Bain of my life at this time of year, as a volunteer and only having Saturday morning to prep the pitch it’s sometimes impossible to deal with them. We are a heavy clay (on an old brickworks) pitch and they never seem to dry out.

Casts are always too wet on the square to remove by brushing or drag mats so all I can do is lift off with a fork and fill up a bucket. Physically tough and takes forever

I try to sour the milk so to speak using iron applications at correct intervals, however this only works to a small degree, but mostly its brushing when conditions allow.

Are there Chemical Control Options?

There are no current chemicals to control worms and in turn stop casting, which on one hand is a positive as worms do some real good, on another level though we are left with having to deal with the casts and the problems they can bring.

Acidifiers from my finding can be very hit and miss, they need very regular application as they get washed through the soil very quickly, but if you do have a sprayer and can get on the surface regularly, then they’re worth trialling.

Off label product/s most of us are aware of these products and are we happy about using it, not really? Do we feel we have a choose, not really but l do hope the industry can look at creating more effective products to help turf professionals better manage worm casts (not worms), especially for those on heavy soils with less resources to hand to manage culturally.

Cultural & Practical Tips for Cast Management!

Box off clippings where you can and try to keep organic matter and thatch to a minimum, by regular verticutting/brushing and thorough end of season renovations.

Don’t over feed, this will encourage top growth and in turn more organic material.

Keep the surface clear of leaves dropped from tree’s, which is a food source for worms.

Keep the surface free draining (not a cricket square in spring/summer), so any winter aeration work will assist in this, the wetter the surface/profile the more worms will be active.

Wait till the surface is drier and try to disperse the casts with the use of a dragmat or brush.

Outfields- as above where possible, but more than likely options are limited to just dispersing the castes using anything that works for you. Some turf professionals use dragmats/brushes/old plastic fencing/reinforced mesh/harrows, once the casts have dried later in the day.

Sand dominated profiles (not cricket squares), the good news is if you are topdressing a winter sports pitch or green with a course medium (angular) sports sand, managing (dispersing) the casts is either easier or will become easier. As you build up the level of sand within the profile the worms and will become much easier to disperse.

Summary!

Managing culturally where possible and trialling acidifiers are the only two options l can officially recommend, reducing your thatch layer and boxing off clipping also help discourage worms, but as l say above managing (dispersing) casts on heavier soil is a major challenge.

These are my thoughts and as a working turf professional l d like to hear any tips or products you are using (on label) that are helping you manage casts on your site.

Please leave comments in the comments box below!

Link to the poll, blog findings taken from-Worm Cast Challenge Poll

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