Worms
There are some 28 species of worm found in UK soil of which only four are of the casting variety. They are surface feeders and the ones that can spoil the playing surface leaving patches of bare soil after mowing. Casting worms do aerate the lawn but can also cause extensive disruption to the playing surface. In extreme circumstances burrowing animals such as moles and badgers can destroy huge areas of turf in their search for worms.
Until now pesticides have been the only effective method of control but these have been withdrawn from the market and are no longer available. However, new methods of controlling worms have evolved and do not require the application of pesticides.
In essence the maintenance programme must address the rootzone condition and convert it into an environment that is not favoured by casting worms. The objective isn't to kill worms, just to persuade them to go elsewhere. The most economic approach is to incorporate a root zone conditioner into the annual maintenance programme. A suitable product is in my shop. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY - sample packs are available free of charge. Click here SOIL CONDITIONER
There are some 28 species of worm found in UK soil of which only four are of the casting variety. They are surface feeders and the ones that can spoil the playing surface leaving patches of bare soil after mowing. Casting worms do aerate the lawn but can also cause extensive disruption to the playing surface. In extreme circumstances burrowing animals such as moles and badgers can destroy huge areas of turf in their search for worms.
Until now pesticides have been the only effective method of control but these have been withdrawn from the market and are no longer available. However, new methods of controlling worms have evolved and do not require the application of pesticides.
In essence the maintenance programme must address the rootzone condition and convert it into an environment that is not favoured by casting worms. The objective isn't to kill worms, just to persuade them to go elsewhere. The most economic approach is to incorporate a root zone conditioner into the annual maintenance programme. A suitable product is in my shop. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY - sample packs are available free of charge. Click here SOIL CONDITIONER
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What is Purity Soil Conditioner?
Camellia Sinensis Seeds
If you walk through the hills in certain areas of China you will see the classic waist-high clipped neatness of tea plantations, not a flower or seed anywhere to be seen on the manicured bushes. However, let those bushes grow and they become substantial trees 20 to 30ft tall. They flower and produce seeds that are about the size of a conker and similar in colour. These seeds from the Camellia sinensis tree are harvested and exploited for the tea seed oils that are squeezed from them using steam and an auger press. The tea seed saponin sources in Purity are often confused with tea tree oils which come from a totally different plant from a totally different continent.
The manufacturers are continuously scouting the world for new fertiliser ingredients, especially organic ones, and many of these ingredients are by-products from other processes. They realised that the residual saponin content within the tea seeds combined with the trace elements and small amount of NPK made an ideal soil conditioner ingredient. So we devised a method to combine it with activators that made it suitable for sports and other amenity turf conditions.
The tea seed pulp is dried, crushed, sieved and combined it with other ingredients to form it into Purity.
The manufacturers are continuously scouting the world for new fertiliser ingredients, especially organic ones, and many of these ingredients are by-products from other processes. They realised that the residual saponin content within the tea seeds combined with the trace elements and small amount of NPK made an ideal soil conditioner ingredient. So we devised a method to combine it with activators that made it suitable for sports and other amenity turf conditions.
The tea seed pulp is dried, crushed, sieved and combined it with other ingredients to form it into Purity.
WORMS
There are some 28 species of worm found in UK soil of which only four are of the casting variety. They are surface feeders and the ones that can spoil the playing surface leaving patches of bare soil after mowing. Casting worms do aerate the lawn but can also cause extensive disruption to the playing surface. In extreme circumstances burrowing animals such as moles and badgers can destroy huge areas of turf in their search for worms.
Pesticides used to be the only effective method of control but these have been withdrawn from the market and are no longer available. New methods of controlling worms have evolved and do not require the application of pesticides.
In essence the maintenance programme must address the rootzone condition and convert it into an environment that is not favoured by casting worms. The objective isn't to kill worms, just to persuade them to go elsewhere. The most economic approach is to incorporate a root zone conditioner into the annual maintenance programme. This could be sand, Sulphate of Iron or other acidifiers but I have not found these to be successful. Instead I recommend this granular conditioner, it has not been scientifically tested nor does it claim to control worms. However, experience shows that worm casting is reduced but not necessarily eliminated as a result.
It should be applied before significant rain in Spring and Autumn. From trial and error, it seems that at least 15mm of rain or irrigation is necessary for success. However, this could vary with different soil types. From my experience, too much rain doesn't matter. After 40mm (1 1/2") fell in one hour, the product worked perfectly.
In view of the cost, the method that I favour is to spot treat areas where there are casts.
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
Sample packs are available free of charge. Each pack covers two square metres. If you would like one, just let me know and I will post it to you.
There are some 28 species of worm found in UK soil of which only four are of the casting variety. They are surface feeders and the ones that can spoil the playing surface leaving patches of bare soil after mowing. Casting worms do aerate the lawn but can also cause extensive disruption to the playing surface. In extreme circumstances burrowing animals such as moles and badgers can destroy huge areas of turf in their search for worms.
Pesticides used to be the only effective method of control but these have been withdrawn from the market and are no longer available. New methods of controlling worms have evolved and do not require the application of pesticides.
In essence the maintenance programme must address the rootzone condition and convert it into an environment that is not favoured by casting worms. The objective isn't to kill worms, just to persuade them to go elsewhere. The most economic approach is to incorporate a root zone conditioner into the annual maintenance programme. This could be sand, Sulphate of Iron or other acidifiers but I have not found these to be successful. Instead I recommend this granular conditioner, it has not been scientifically tested nor does it claim to control worms. However, experience shows that worm casting is reduced but not necessarily eliminated as a result.
It should be applied before significant rain in Spring and Autumn. From trial and error, it seems that at least 15mm of rain or irrigation is necessary for success. However, this could vary with different soil types. From my experience, too much rain doesn't matter. After 40mm (1 1/2") fell in one hour, the product worked perfectly.
In view of the cost, the method that I favour is to spot treat areas where there are casts.
TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
Sample packs are available free of charge. Each pack covers two square metres. If you would like one, just let me know and I will post it to you.
