Creepy Crawly Friends

Did you know that there are a gazillion, bazillion tiny creatures that are living in your soil? When you add fertilizer and amendments, what you're really feeding is your very own microscopic zoo. The more goodies you give your tiny buddies, the more they multiply and in turn feed your plants.

Take the lowly earthworm, for example. Perhaps the only underground creature we ever get a good look at and a gardener's very best subterranean friend.

He lives 10 feet down. But put a three-inch layer of mulch on the soil surface and he'll come right to the top for feeding time. While he's on his way, he's opening air holes in the soil, pulling organic material under, making food for your plants and getting your soil in really good shape.

If you love to garden, the earthworm should be your friend too. Besides, he makes a great Show & Tell topic, a fun slumber party companion, always likes the same movies you do, and can even tell a good joke once in a while.