Is the absence of earthworms in a compost pile concerning?
Question:
Is the absence of earthworms in or at the bottom of a two year old compost pile with a bottom made up of a tangle of small tree branches a concern?
Answer:
Frank S. Wertheim, Extension Educator – Agriculture/Horticulture
If the compost is old, which it likely would be at the bottom of the pile, then it is fully decomposed and there is no longer fresh organic matter there to attract worms. If the compost looks rich and black, it likely is high quality and fully decomposed, and I would not worry about the lack of earthworms.