All the Dirt on Gardening

Here's an interesting tidbit you may have missed. The Weed Science Society of America released this report. Weed scientists discovered that “underground gardening” by earthworms is contributing to the spread of giant ragweed, a plant that causes sneezes and sniffles and is one of the nation’s most irritating weeds. Earthworms help ragweed thrive by systematically collecting and burying its seeds in their burrows, said weed ecologist Dr. Emilie Regnier of Ohio State University. In fact, we’ve found that more than two-thirds of all giant ragweed seedlings emerge from earthworm burrows. The study focused on Lumbricus terrestris worms – commonly known as nightcrawlers. Until now, nightcrawlers have had a stellar reputation among growers since their burrows promote water filtration and their eating habits help make nutrients more available to crops. The worms feed on plant litter they collect from the soil surface and store inside their narrow, underground homes. As the litter softens ...