Worm Casts -Poll of the Month in this first poll we look at our friend and foe the worm cast. Worms are great for the soil but worms casts on heavy soil are a real management challenge.
In this short blog containing three polls l hope to continue to gain valuable information and feedback on the management of worm casts. As a multi sports Groundsperson l certainly understand the day to day challenge between needing worms to do there magic under the surface (aeration/thatch breakdown), but on the surface the dealing with the casts. This is especially a challenge on soils containing heavy soil, where cultural managements tools are very hit and miss if there any moisture in the casts.
Our winter sports pitches sit very wet, getting a tractor and brush on to disperse casts is a rare task as the site sits so wet and when you do, there back in a instant.
Please take a minute to complete these very quick polls
Polls
Your Sport?
Main Problems
Management Techniques
Your Comment Matter!
If you have any tips, thoughts please do leave a comment in the comments box below.
More reading, How to Manage Worm Casts a blog l need to rename l know.
If and where you can manage them, they do come with many benefits.
14 comments
I have learned to live with them ,When dry brush / wire rake off, or when frost wire rake again
Thanks Peter , on ours squares difficult to just let them cast and affect levels, on our winter sports where grass is longer but smearing occurs and grass is buried l do try and manage them culturally. Thanks for reply 👍🏻
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 seam to dry out. Bring back carbendazim 😳
Sorry to hear that, a big factor that when encouraged to manage culturally , one you need the kit, two you need the time. Thanks for taking time to comment .
Saw a guy give a presentation at BTME about a study they had done in America, and the only thing that reduced the casting was punching holes. The worms casted in the holes so didn’t come to the surface to do it
Interesting not heard that one before, thanks for the taking time to comment andy
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.
Yes if ever want to know about other solution/s or help just reach out to me !
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.
Yes good shout help as you say for a brief period and guess also have to be careful with the over applying of Fe (iron) thanks for response
On the squares hardly any casts thanks to Advance C. Aim was to dragmat key area of outfield and then apply same. Trouble was heavy rain didn’t arrive when needed. So this area doesn’t get rain filtration as casts create a heavy film. Frustrating!
Yes and thanks all very relevant comments
Purity…
Who said that , that’s off label but hand up we all used it or consider it. Very very hard to maintain a high standard of turf on heavy soil and allow casts to build up…