Will Nightcrawlers Help Aerate a Lawn?

Natural Aerators

• Natural aerators, nightcrawlers burrow into the soil to find food, creating tunnels that bring water, oxygen and fertilizer closer to plants' roots. Aeration helps prevent and remedy soil compaction, allowing room for root growth.

Worm Castings

• Nightcrawlers feed on thatch and other plant material found in and on the soil. They create a waste product called worm castings, a nice way of saying worm poop. Though nutrient-filled, the worm castings create undesirable hard lumps at the soil's surface. Flattening these lumps with a ballast roller causes compaction, reducing aeration. Controlling the nightcrawler population provides a desirable balance.

Keeping Control

• Too many castings make walking on a lawn difficult. To control the nightcrawler population, soak the top 3 inches of soil. Hand pick nightcrawlers as they come to the soil surface at night and relocate them to a better spot. They also make excellent fishing bait. Raking the lawn also breaks down and disperses castings without losing aeration or causing compaction.