About Jumping Worms
Jumping worms are a type of earthworm. When disturbed, they slither and appear to jump. Native to Asia, jumping worms have been confirmed in limited areas of Minnesota since 2006, mainly in the Twin Cities and western suburbs and in Rochester. It’s believed that they were spread throughout North America by people moving potted plants, soil, compost, mulch and fishing bait.
Jumping worms eat their way through the plant litter on forest floors at a much faster rate than other worms. This exposes the soil and causes erosion, compaction and increased rainwater runoff which also means invasive plants can sneak in more readily.
What is Gertens Doing to Prevent the Spread of Jumping Worms?
Gertens has been growing plants for over 100 years, and we continue to follow the practices of growing the best variety and quality of flower and vegetable plants, trees, shrubs and perennials. We painstakingly monitor the quality and safety of the entire process including the growing media we use, the hygiene efforts in every step and the processing of that growing medium and our mulches. Here is a brief overview of Gerten’s Process:
- We manufacture our bulk and bagged mulches with multiple safeguards including a process in which our mulches are heated up to 130 to 140 degrees. This process kills diseases and pests such as jumping worms. This results in mulch that has been heat sterilized and free of jumping worms.
- We manufacture our compost, which by its nature heats up to 130 to 140 degrees, again, killing pests and disease, including jumping worms.
- We grow almost all the plants we sell which means we are not importing or transporting large amounts of plants from other growers or wholesalers.
- We use our own growing media which is made up of pine bark, peat moss, rice hulls and coarse sand, all of which are sterile. There is NO dirt (ground) in our growing mixes.
- Jumping worms feed on leaf litter and mulch. The soil we sell is aged for 2 to 3 years, meaning there is no leaf litter or mulch in it, leaving no food for the worms.
Gertens has always been committed to providing the best quality product, be it our plants, our mulches, our compost and more. Your gardening success reflects on us.
For more information on Jumping Worms:
- In 2013, Jumping Worms were first discovered in Wisconsin. They then arrived in Minnesota as many invasive species do. The Minnesota DNR has a wealth of information for a deeper dive into this invasive.
- Jumping worms change the soil texture, stripping it of nutrients and can kill plants. The University of Minnesota Extension offers ways in which you can help prevent their spread, including disposing of them in the garbage, not into our environment.
- Images and identification of Jumping Worms from Purdue University.
- Video of a jumping worm