Did you know that a single pound of earthworms can eat up to half a pound of food scraps every day? These wiggly workers are nature’s tiny superheroes for your garden soil! But when you decide to bring them in, a new challenge pops up: which kind of worm should you choose? It can feel overwhelming trying to pick the right species when you just want healthy plants and rich compost.
Many gardeners face the headache of confusing names like Red Wigglers versus Nightcrawlers, wondering which one truly thrives in a compost bin versus the garden bed. Choosing the wrong worm means slow composting or worms that just won’t stick around. You want an easy, effective way to boost your soil naturally.
This post will clear up all the confusion. We break down the top worm choices for gardening, showing you exactly what each one does best. By the end, you will confidently select the perfect wrigglers to transform your soil health. Let’s dive into the wonderful world of garden worms!
Top Worms For Garden Recommendations
- The Best Worms for Composting: Our Red Wiggler worms are harvested from worm beds that are decades old and may contain different earthworm species. Diversity is superior because they work all layers of the compost, not just the top few inches, giving you a better compost in a shorter amount of time
- Composting Worms for Garden: Using earthworms for composting purposes can prove to be a benefit to any garden or farm soil. The food scraps and waste they consume in the compost bin gets digested and transformed into some of the most nutritious earth material that lawns and gardens could grow in: worm castings!
- Worms for Composting: The worm castings produced by our Red Wigglers are 7 times richer in phosphates, 5 times richer in nitrogen, and 11 times richer in potash than average lawn soil. The ample supply of nutrients provided by each worm composter helps your garden to grow healthier plants and this valuable substance is all a result of your trash!
- Composting Worms Help the Earth: By feeding your food scraps to your worms for composting instead of throwing them away, you help to recycle nutrients and keep less trash in landfills. Using worm castings also reduces the need for harmful earth-destroying chemicals, instead relying on safe, organic production.
- Uncle Jim's Worm Farm: We've been in business for over 50 years, using over 40 acres of land, the largest worm farm in the US! We're a “Down to Earth” company and handle the whole process of growing and farming composting worms for the market from start to finish. All of our worms are proudly raised in the USA. Here at Uncle Jim's, we really know worms!
- Nightcrawler Worms for Composting: Our Super Red worms are 2-5 times larger than normal red worms and are harvested from worm beds that are decades old and may contain different earthworm species. Diversity is superior because they work all layers of the compost, not just the top few inches, giving you a better compost in a shorter amount of time.
- European Worms for Garden Soil: Using earthworms for composting purposes can prove to be a benefit to any garden or farm soil. The food scraps and waste they consume in the compost bin gets digested and transformed into some of the most nutritious earth material that lawns and gardens could grow in: worm castings!
- Worms for Composting: The worm castings produced by our European Nightcrawlers are richer in phosphates, nitrogen, and potash than average lawn soil. The tunnels each worm burrows allows water and other nutrients to reach the root systems of your lawn and garden. Proper aeration of soil guarantees excellent root growth and strength.
- Composting Worms Help the Earth: By feeding your food scraps to your worms for composting instead of throwing them away, you help to recycle nutrients and keep less trash in landfills. Using worm castings also reduces the need for harmful earth-destroying chemicals, instead relying on safe, organic production. They're also great bait worms for fishing!
- Uncle Jim's Worm Farm: We've been in business for over 50 years, using over 40 acres of land, the largest worm farm in the US! We're a “Down to Earth” company and handle the whole process of growing and farming composting worms for the market from start to finish. All of our worms are proudly raised in the USA. Here at Uncle Jim's, we really know worms!
- Nightcrawler Worms for Composting: Our Super Red worms are 2-5 times larger than normal red worms and are harvested from worm beds that are decades old and may contain different earthworm species. Diversity is superior because they work all layers of the compost, not just the top few inches, giving you a better compost in a shorter amount of time.
- European Worms for Garden Soil: Using earthworms for composting purposes can prove to be a benefit to any garden or farm soil. The food scraps and waste they consume in the compost bin gets digested and transformed into some of the most nutritious earth material that lawns and gardens could grow in: worm castings!
- Worms for Composting: The worm castings produced by our European Nightcrawlers are richer in phosphates, nitrogen, and potash than average lawn soil. The tunnels each worm burrows allows water and other nutrients to reach the root systems of your lawn and garden. Proper aeration of soil guarantees excellent root growth and strength.
- Composting Worms Help the Earth: By feeding your food scraps to your worms for composting instead of throwing them away, you help to recycle nutrients and keep less trash in landfills. Using worm castings also reduces the need for harmful earth-destroying chemicals, instead relying on safe, organic production. They're also great bait worms for fishing!
- Uncle Jim's Worm Farm: We've been in business for over 50 years, using over 40 acres of land, the largest worm farm in the US! We're a “Down to Earth” company and handle the whole process of growing and farming composting worms for the market from start to finish. All of our worms are proudly raised in the USA. Here at Uncle Jim's, we really know worms!
- 100 Count Live Red Wiggler Composting Worms for Garden Soil or Fishing or Feed
- These Red Worms turn Organic Waste into Nutrient Rich Soil!
- Red Worms are Nature's Garbage Disposal
- 250 Count Live Red Wiggler Composting Worms for Garden Soil or Fishing or Feed
- The Best Worms for Composting: Our Red Wiggler worms are harvested from worm beds that are decades old and may contain different earthworm species. Diversity is superior because they work all layers of the compost, not just the top few inches, giving you a better compost in a shorter amount of time
- Composting Worms for Garden: Using earthworms for composting purposes can prove to be a benefit to any garden or farm soil. The food scraps and waste they consume in the compost bin gets digested and transformed into some of the most nutritious earth material that lawns and gardens could grow in: worm castings!
- Worms for Composting: The worm castings produced by our Red Wigglers are 7 times richer in phosphates, 5 times richer in nitrogen, and 11 times richer in potash than average lawn soil. The ample supply of nutrients provided by each worm composter helps your garden to grow healthier plants and this valuable substance is all a result of your trash!
- Composting Worms Help the Earth: By feeding your food scraps to your worms for composting instead of throwing them away, you help to recycle nutrients and keep less trash in landfills. Using worm castings also reduces the need for harmful earth-destroying chemicals, instead relying on safe, organic production.
- Uncle Jim's Worm Farm: We've been in business for over 50 years, using over 40 acres of land, the largest worm farm in the US! We're a “Down to Earth” company and handle the whole process of growing and farming composting worms for the market from start to finish. All of our worms are proudly raised in the USA. Here at Uncle Jim's, we really know worms!
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Garden Worms
Welcome to your guide for choosing the best worms for your garden! Worms are nature’s little helpers. They turn your kitchen scraps into amazing soil food. Buying the right worms makes your composting and gardening much easier. Let’s dive into what you need to know.
Key Features to Look For in Garden Worms
When you buy worms, you look for a few important things. These features tell you if the worms will work well in your compost bin or garden bed.
1. Worm Species Matters Most
- Red Wigglers (Eisenia fetida): These are the champions for composting. They eat fast and love to live in tight spaces, like a compost bin. They are the best choice if you want quick compost (vermicomposting).
- Nightcrawlers (Lumbricus terrestris): These big worms dig deep tunnels in your garden soil. They help air and water get deep down. They are better for improving existing garden beds than for starting a compost pile.
2. Worm Count and Weight
Sellers usually sell worms by weight (e.g., one pound) or by count (e.g., 500 worms). A good starting amount for a small bin is about half a pound. More worms mean faster eating and composting!
3. Worm Health and Activity
Healthy worms are plump and move quickly when disturbed. They should smell earthy, not rotten. Avoid sellers whose worms look broken, dry, or slimy.
Important Materials: What Your Worms Need
The “materials” here refer to the environment the worms come in and what they eat.
Bedding Quality
Worms arrive packed in bedding. Good bedding is moist, dark, and fluffy. It might be peat moss, shredded newspaper, or compost. This keeps them happy during shipping.
Moisture Level
Worms breathe through their skin, so they must stay moist. The bedding should feel like a wrung-out sponge—damp, but not soaking wet. Too dry, and they dry out. Too wet, and they can drown.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
The quality of the worms you receive greatly affects your success.
Factors That Improve Quality
- Fast Shipping: Worms should travel quickly, often in cooled boxes, especially in hot weather. This keeps them alive and active.
- Reputable Source: Buying from a trusted worm farm means you get the right species and healthy stock.
Factors That Reduce Quality
- Pest Contamination: Sometimes, unwanted pests like fungus gnats or parasitic worms hitch a ride. A good seller checks for these before shipping.
- Temperature Stress: If worms get too hot (over 85°F) or too cold (near freezing) during travel, many will die.
User Experience and Use Cases
How you plan to use your worms changes which type you should buy.
Composting Enthusiasts (Vermicomposting)
If you want to quickly recycle food scraps into powerful fertilizer (worm castings), choose Red Wigglers. They thrive indoors or in small outdoor bins. Users report that Red Wigglers start working within days of being added to a prepared bin.
Garden Soil Improvement
If your garden soil is hard and compacted, Nightcrawlers are better. You add them directly to the soil. They burrow deep, creating channels for air and water. Gardeners notice that soil drains better after a few months of Nightcrawler activity.
Beginner Setup
Newcomers should start with Red Wigglers in a simple plastic bin. They are easier to manage indoors and are less likely to escape than Nightcrawlers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: How many worms do I need to start composting?
A: A good starting point is half a pound of Red Wigglers for a standard small kitchen compost bin. This gives you enough workers to handle daily food scraps.
Q: Can I just dig up worms from my yard?
A: You can, but it is not recommended for composting. Yard worms are often Nightcrawlers, which prefer deep soil and do not reproduce quickly in a small compost bin. Purchased Red Wigglers are specifically bred for fast composting.
Q: What should I feed my new worms?
A: Worms love vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, and shredded paper or cardboard. Avoid meats, dairy, and oily foods because these can attract pests and smell bad.
Q: How long does it take for worms to make good compost?
A: If your bin is well-managed, you can start seeing dark, rich compost (castings) in about two to three months.
Q: Do I need to keep my worms in the dark?
A: Yes. Worms do not like light. Keep your compost bin covered or place it in a dark shed or basement. They will burrow down into the bedding to hide.
Q: What is the ideal temperature for my worm bin?
A: Worms prefer temperatures between 55°F and 77°F (13°C and 25°C). Keep them safe from freezing and intense summer heat.
Q: Will the worms survive if I send them through the mail?
A: Reputable sellers pack them carefully with damp bedding and often use insulation or ice packs. If you order during extreme weather, choose expedited shipping.
Q: How often should I feed my worms?
A: Feed them small amounts every few days, or whenever you notice the last meal has mostly disappeared. Overfeeding leads to smelly, rotten food.
Q: Are worms messy or smelly?
A: Healthy worm bins smell earthy, like fresh soil. If you smell ammonia or rot, you are either feeding them too much or the bin is too wet.
Q: Can I use worms in my regular garden soil right away?
A: You can mix them in, but Nightcrawlers are better for deep soil improvement. Red Wigglers might try to migrate up to the surface or escape if the soil conditions are not rich enough yet.