Worms and shade

When I was a little girl the boys chased me with earthworms. I hated them, the boys too! I learned to tolerate then appreciate them and the boys. I have since learned more about both.

I will share what I know about worms only! The study of vermiculture or the growing of worms has been a method of improving soil condition for centuries and has become an important science in agriculture today. There is a distinction between worms used for “worm boxes” and those that find their way into the compost pile. Red wigglers are the worms used in worm boxes as the larger earthworms do leave their castings on the surface but carry their food into tunnels deeper in the soil.

Regardless what kind of worms you nurture the basic components for a successful compost environment are bedding material, moisture and food.

Bedding material can consist simply of topsoil or shredded newspaper. When newspaper is used it is important not to use the colored pages.

A moist environment is necessary for worms. The bedding shouldn’t be saturated but soft and not allowed to dry out.

Food consisting of vegetable and fruit scraps is ideal. Chickens don’t like melon rinds but worms love them—what a great way to dispose of them. The worms also digest coffee grounds and egg shells. Though it is easy to apply scraps from the table, meat or bones should not be added to the compost. Animal products are an invitation to flies and rodents who are just waiting to get in on the fun.

It is amazing but in the right environment two pounds of worms can recycle one pound of organic waste in a day.

Like the worms, I am looking for a cool shady place. It is too hot to pull weeds and the tomatoes are not ready to harvest. The only alternative, other than cleaning my house, is to go to a nursery and drool over options for shade trees for my yard.

The willow takes too much water, I already have pine trees and the neighbor’s maple sheds so many leaves; then I spied a catalpa. It’s large saucer sized leaves and green dangling pods is not only attractive but the picture on the tag shows a beautiful creamy white blossom about eight inches long.

It doesn’t like to be too exposed so the neighbors maple will give it some shelter. Now that our climate seems to be warmer I think I’ll give it a try. Not a good time to plant, but I paid for it and the nurseryman will keep it for me until mid-September.

I remember the colorful dogwood trees last spring. The dogwood is a fascinating tree. It’s flowers are surrounded by four colorful long-lasting bracts in May and June. Dogwoods prefer a slightly acidic soil but seem to have acclimated to soils in the Spokane area. The fruit of the dogwood is called a drupe and is an interesting feature on the tree in the fall. The foliage now is rather blah but I see a tinge of red on the leaves. Its fall foliage will be lovely.

I really need to find a place for the Cherokee pink dogwood in my yard.

Remember, Master Gardeners are available at the Cheney Library the 1st and 3rd Fridays of the month until October.