How To Prevent Earthworms On Your Patio: [5 Tips]

If you have a beautiful patio but are noticing that earthworms keep finding their way to your outdoor space, then this is the article for you.

We will review five of the most common ways to prevent earthworms on patios and give tips for each one.

How To Keep Earthworms Off Your Patio?

Earthworms can be a real problem for those who have patios. This is because they are attracted to the moisture and warmth of patio surfaces, where it’s easy access to food leftover from humans or pets as well as other sources such as over-watering vegetation.

You can find organic earthworm repeller HERE

Fortunately, you can take steps to keep earthworms off your patio areas using simple methods that require minimal effort on your part. Follow these 5 tips below:

1. Use Salt

The best way to get rid of earthworms is salt. It will kill them because it dehydrates them when you sprinkle it on them.

Normal table salt works, because it has a finer texture that will be more likely to kill earthworms, however, rock salt or kosher salt will also work just fine.

If you have to use seawater for some reason, don’t worry it’ll still work

2. Spread Lime

You can also use lime as a repellent against worms because they do not like its smell or taste.

3. Rake Up Leaves

Earthworms feed upon decaying plant matter, so they tend to show up where ever their food source exists – which often includes patios or gardens near trees or landscaping features like mulch beds or flower beds with dead leaves around them.

To keep an area free of earthworm activity, simply rake all fallen leaves away from any hard surfaces (like patios, driveways, walkway stones) and dispose of them in a separate location to prevent re-infestation.

3. Drainage

Drainage is another important factor to consider when defending your patio or garden against earthworms.

If you have poor drainage in this area (which can happen if there are puddles after it rains), then the worms will thrive here because the ground is flooded and the patio is the only source of dry land.

To avoid this problem, ensure that any soil around your home’s foundation drains well so no stagnant pools form during rainfall events – which leads us into our next section …

4. Organic Barrier

Earthworm activity can be discouraged by adding mulch around your landscaping features to create a barrier between them and the earthworms – which helps with reducing moisture levels in this area as well.

Since their food source prefers moist soils (which is why we recommend establishing better drainage). A four-inch layer of organic matter (like a wood chip or bark) will do the trick and keep things worm-free for several years without needing replacement.

How Do You Keep Earthworms Out Of Concrete?

Worms are no different from other animals in that they can burrow into concrete to escape the elements. Left alone, worms pose no threat. However, if you suspect an infestation, the following steps may help you with your worm problem.

Step 1 – Prevention 

To prevent future problems with earthworm infestations, seal the concrete surfaces of the foundation to keep them out­ for good.

This can be done by applying a coat of marine-grade epoxy paint or one that is specifically made for this purpose.

Be sure to follow safety precautions on the product label carefully before beginning this project.

Step 2 – Treating The Problem      

When treating an infestation, begin by applying a layer of earthworm repellent along the foundation. This will lock out the pests and prevent future crowding. For added protection apply an additional perimeter spray to repel any stragglers.

Be sure to test first for color-fastness before beginning this project as some paints may affect the texture of concrete.

Step 3 – Eradication      

Once you have treated the problem, it is time to kill off any existing earthworms in your concrete. A combination of boiling saltwater and freezing temperatures is most effective for killing earthworms in concrete.

Make a solution with 1 part salt and 10 parts water and pour into all cracks on your property including those around windows, doors, AC units, and drainpipes.

Step 4 – Prevention (Alternative Method)      

If you are unable to purchase or make an earthworm repellent yourself, you can use a commercially available one instead.

Look for products marked as worm barriers that will prevent infestation on your property. When selecting the product, make sure it is specifically labeled for outdoor use in heavy-duty applications like yours. You Can Find Some Here

Why Are Worms Dying On My Patio?

With no protection, they can become dehydrated or even freeze in extremely cold conditions. In this case, environmental factors may be the cause of death for these worms.

Earthworms that populate areas under patios and driveways become more exposed to the changing temperatures and rain patterns.

This affects their ability to make enough of the mucus that protects them from natural elements.

If you live in an area where earthworms are common, chances are you will occasionally come across one that is already dead.

A lot of the time, these worms appear to have just died all at once. Sometimes it seems like their bodies were squished by some sort of weight.

Though this may be concerning when it happens in your yard or garden, there isn’t really anything to worry about if the same thing happens with the worms on your patio.