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Ugh, another reason to avoid store bought compost
+5
Scorpio Rising
trolleydriver
plantoid
sanderson
No_Such_Reality
9 posters
Page 1 of 1
Ugh, another reason to avoid store bought compost
Last weekend I topped off the new raised wall planting bed. Having run out of my homemade compost to mix with the soil, I supplemented with some local store bought 'garden soil' (composted forest product) and composted steer and chicken manure.
Today for the first time, I've seen this unfriendly... the land planarian, AKA hammerhead flatworm.

Granted, the above flatworm may have been in my own compost or soil, however, never having seen one around in the last seven years of working in the morning in the garden, odd that I find one a few days after adding store compost.
This creature measured in around 6 inches, so on my computer screen, the image is somewhat smaller than real life.
Today for the first time, I've seen this unfriendly... the land planarian, AKA hammerhead flatworm.

Granted, the above flatworm may have been in my own compost or soil, however, never having seen one around in the last seven years of working in the morning in the garden, odd that I find one a few days after adding store compost.
This creature measured in around 6 inches, so on my computer screen, the image is somewhat smaller than real life.

No_Such_Reality-
Posts : 666
Join date : 2011-04-22
Location : Orange County, CA aka Disneyland or Sunset zone 22
Re: Ugh, another reason to avoid store bought compost
Was that worm six inches long when contracted . ?
I unearthed an eight inch on Monday afternoon . It stretched to a good foot or more when fully extended .
Whatever the length , worms like that mean your garden / compost is good , no worms means not good soil .
My beds have three types of worms these days :- Big lob worms like the one in th picture , smaller ones and striped brandlings that work their way through newly composted matter I've recently added to the beds .
I unearthed an eight inch on Monday afternoon . It stretched to a good foot or more when fully extended .
Whatever the length , worms like that mean your garden / compost is good , no worms means not good soil .
My beds have three types of worms these days :- Big lob worms like the one in th picture , smaller ones and striped brandlings that work their way through newly composted matter I've recently added to the beds .
plantoid-
Posts : 4093
Join date : 2011-11-09
Age : 72
Location : At the west end of M4 in the UK
Re: Ugh, another reason to avoid store bought compost
If that is a hammerhead slug/flatworm, you do not want it in your garden. They feed on earthworms (the good worms).
http://www.strangeanimals.info/2014/11/hammerhead-slug-worlds-largest-flatworm.html
http://www.strangeanimals.info/2014/11/hammerhead-slug-worlds-largest-flatworm.html
trolleydriver
Forum Moderator-
Posts : 5390
Join date : 2015-05-04
Age : 76
Location : Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Re: Ugh, another reason to avoid store bought compost
YUK! I have never seen one of those....glad.
Scorpio Rising-
Posts : 8567
Join date : 2015-06-12
Age : 61
Location : Ada, Ohio
Re: Ugh, another reason to avoid store bought compost
We've seen a few. Didn't know they were bad guys. If we see anymore, we'll relocate them to the woods behind us.Scorpio Rising wrote:YUK! I have never seen one of those....glad.

Re: Ugh, another reason to avoid store bought compost
I read about this evil creature some time ago, but fortunately have never seen one.
Perhaps, if one needs to purchase store-bought compost, sifting would be one way to detect this worm.
Rather than re-locate, I think it would be best to search and destroy!
Perhaps, if one needs to purchase store-bought compost, sifting would be one way to detect this worm.
Rather than re-locate, I think it would be best to search and destroy!
Re: Ugh, another reason to avoid store bought compost
+1donnainzone5 wrote:I read about this evil creature some time ago, but fortunately have never seen one.
Perhaps, if one needs to purchase store-bought compost, sifting would be one way to detect this worm.
Rather than re-locate, I think it would be best to search and destroy!
I never saw one but if I do, it will be eliminated like a roach.
has55- Posts : 2378
Join date : 2012-05-10
Location : Denton, tx
Re: Ugh, another reason to avoid store bought compost
I'm wondering if they 'surface' seasonally. I see them more in the fall. Today I saw more total than the past three years. They were mostly under plastic items on the concrete driveway - including underneath unopened bags of compost.
BeetlesPerSqFt-
Posts : 1439
Join date : 2016-04-11
Location : Port Matilda, PA Zone 5b/6a LF:5/11-FF:10/10

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