How To Add Worms To Your Garden

How To Add Worms To Your Garden

How We Apply Our Garden Worms (And How You Can Too!)

At Utah Worm Company we don’t just sell worms—we use them every day in our own garden, and we’ve seen firsthand the difference they make. Whether you're growing vegetables, flowers, or just trying to improve your soil health, adding worms is one of the easiest (and most natural) ways to give your garden a big boost.  One of the biggest successes we have is how amazing our over 75 orchard and shade trees have grown using worms and worm castings!

Here’s how we apply our worms—and how you can do the same in your own backyard.


Step 1: Prepare the Soil

Before adding worms, we make sure the soil is moist but not soaking wet. Worms breathe through their skin and need a damp environment to thrive. We also avoid adding them to areas with heavy pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Think of worms like helpful guests—you want to make them feel welcome!

Tip: Loosen the top 4–6 inches of soil with a garden fork. This gives your worms an easier time digging in and getting settled.


Step 2: Apply the Worms

Once the soil is ready, we spread our worms right on top of the soil, usually in the early morning or late evening (when it’s cooler). No need to dig them in—they’ll naturally burrow down to find food and shelter.

We usually aim for:

  • 1 pound of worms per 100 square surface feet for an average garden

  • Or a handful per planting hole if you’re adding them to individual plants or raised beds

You’ll see them disappear into the soil in no time—it’s pretty amazing!


Step 3: Add Organic Matter

To keep our worms happy and working hard, we layer organic matter like compost, shredded leaves, or aged manure right on top of the soil. This acts like a buffet for your worms and encourages them to stay in the area, eating and pooping out that black gold we call worm castings.


Step 4: Water Regularly

Worms love moisture, so we water lightly every few days to keep things just damp enough. If the soil dries out completely, they’ll either go dormant or move on to wetter ground.

During hot summer months, we also mulch the beds to keep soil temperatures cooler and moisture levels more consistent.


What to Expect

With worms in your garden, you’ll notice:

  • Better soil texture

  • More plant growth

  • Healthier root systems

  • Fewer compaction issues

  • And worm castings naturally enriching the soil over time

It’s a slow and steady process—but it works.


Final Thoughts

We believe that working with nature is the best way to grow and yes it takes time but like I always tell my own kids, anything worthwhile takes patience and intentional effort. Our worms are carefully harvested and packed with love. When you apply them to your garden, you're not just improving your soil—you’re building a living, thriving ecosystem from the ground up.

If you’ve never tried adding worms to your garden, now’s the time. Give it a shot—and we'd love to know how it goes!

Happy gardening from the Jensen's at Utah Worm Company 🪱🌱

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