{"id":32183,"date":"2020-07-14T16:00:35","date_gmt":"2020-07-14T23:00:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.staging.idgadvertising.com\/sgwflorida\/company\/ask-an-expert\/ask-jw\/earthworms-and-putting-greens\/"},"modified":"2024-05-28T10:49:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-28T17:49:41","slug":"earthworms-and-putting-greens","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sgwflorida.com\/orlando\/company\/ask-an-expert\/ask-jw\/earthworms-and-putting-greens\/","title":{"rendered":"Earthworms and Putting Greens"},"content":{"rendered":"

Over the last year, I have had several calls pertaining to worms wreaking havoc on putting greens, or should I say under putting greens. I have spoken on this subject before, but after hearing horror stories of putting greens having to be completely removed and replaced, I thought I would reiterate how crucial it is to be aware of the destruction earthworms can cause on putting greens. This month, Ask JW will talk about how and why earthworms cause havoc on putting greens and how to prevent it.<\/p> <\/div><\/div><\/div>

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It\u2019s normal to see earthworms present within your home\u2019s lawn or garden. This is a sign of healthy soil. Earthworms thrive on the enriched soil that contains high levels of organic material. The only time you may see earthworms above the surface is when there are periods of excessive moisture, such as after rainfall. However, earthworms tend to surface in natural lawns to deposit their castings, and they will try to do the same with synthetic turf. Worm castings, also known as vermicast, are essentially worm excrement. These excretions are remains of nutrients and digested plant matter that have passed through the worm. These may be good for your lawn or garden, but not for soils underneath putting greens. If you have witnessed earthworm castings in the area that you are wanting to place a putting green, I would take heed and listen to what I am about to teach you.<\/p> <\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Earthworms can destroy putting green, bocce ball, and lawn bowling sub-base materials. Those little critters create havoc when they make a home beneath your playing surface, as they create burrow channels below the compacted soil. When this happens, erosion takes place and this creates an uneven playing surface above. These little trenches will get worse over time, especially when excessive rain water becomes present.<\/p> <\/div><\/div><\/div>

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If your area is subject to earthworms, I recommend using a larger aggregate for your base material. The smaller the materials are in size, the more likely it is that earthworms may infiltrate your sub-base.<\/p> <\/div><\/div><\/div>

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Earthworms move throughout the soil creating\u00a0aeration<\/a>. This aeration is what wreaks havoc on putting green surfaces. When earthworms tunnel throughout the compacted base, it creates voids. These voids settle over time, which allows the putting green surface to have depressions. Areas where tunnels connect can leave up to one-inch voids.<\/p>

If there is excessive moisture, it may become worse. When the soil is flooded, the worms cannot get enough oxygen, so they come to the surface to breathe. The center picture above shows how deep earthworms can tunnel. You will never know if they attack the subgrade soil until your surface starts to show irregularities.<\/p> <\/div><\/div><\/div>

Dealing with Earthworms<\/h2><\/div><\/div><\/div>
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We respect how beneficial the earthworm can be for lawns and gardens, but NOT for putting greens. There are ways to deal with earthworms and their castings.<\/p>