Earthworms and BFB

I have heard that applying BFB is not good for earthworms. The source didn't appear to offer any evidence either way but I wondered if anyone has any knowledge from their own experience ?
TIA

 

My understanding was that BFB was preferable to Growmore which can irritate the skin of worms and other invertebrates.

i use mostly BFB and chicken manure pellets in my garden (veg and flowers) and the number of worms has hugely increased since we’ve been here.

 

What is BFB?

 

Blood, Fish & Bone. … slow release organic garden fertiliser @Papi Jo

 

Organic fertilisers shouldn't do any harm to the soil and it's life, it's chemical fertilisers that are more risky and why many of us only use those for potted plants and not in ground plants.

 

Hello Dove - Philippa here - yes, I use BFB but hadn't heard that about the Growmore so thanks for the tip. Don;t tend to use that much anyway. Not short of worms here but it just niggled me ever since it was mentioned.
Hope all's well with you.
Sorry @Papi Jo - yes, Blood, Fish and Bone - slow acting soil conditioner.

 

@Thevictorian - precisely - best avoided if possible.

 

Ah hello … so it’s you

 

Vitax Q4 would be a suitable substitute for synthetic chemical fertiliser.
What your earthworms would really really like is a thick mulch of composted waste and/or FYM

 

‘My’earthworms get garden compost and well rotted manure as well as the BFB and chicken pellets. They’re very happy earthworms.

 

I would think that so long as the earthworm isn't actually covered with the BFB then it should be fine, BFB is generally applied fairly lightly.

 

@infradig I agree - natural is always best. No shortage of worms here tho ( including the Slow variety ).

 

@NigelJ Yes, the BFB is scattered on the surface and then gently raked in - the worms are therefore not at risk of being "coated".
Of course, rain will wash down thru the soil and carry anything with it. The only reason I asked was that I thought it a bit odd and wondered what others had found - or not.

 

@Dovefromabove

 

The only problem I’ve encountered with BFB @Parrot is that foxes like it and so do labradors!



I sometimes use it on my lawn and there is still lots of earthworm activity, much appreciated by the blackbirds.