Diet

• Earthworms are able to digest nutrients such as protein, fat and sugars from items such as decaying leaves. Decaying or dead plant and animal matter is already partially broken down and not as hard to digest as fresh plants or animals. But earthworms are also able to eat microscopic organisms such as protozoans, bacteria, fungal spores and roundworms called nematodes. Some species of nematodes, fungi and bacteria may be harmful to plants.
  
  

Fun Facts

• Earthworms need to swallow and digest a lot of soil in order to get enough nutrients per day from items such as decayed leaves or plants. Earthworms eat their body weight in soil every day. This leads to a lot of earthworm feces, called castings. These castings are rich in nutrients that help to keep soil fertile. Since the earthworm tunnels, it is able to spread these castings about. Castings may include some plant material such as fallen leaves. Going through the worm's digestive process helps the leaves to release its nutrients into the soil faster through decomposition.
  
  

Uses for Leaves

• Earthworms may be seen pulling grass clippings or fallen leaves into the ground. Earthworms have two uses for leaves and grass clippings -- as food for later and for protection. The plants are not eaten fresh, but are left to grind into the soil and begin the decaying process. Leaves and grass clippings also help to plug the hole to the surface that the worm left behind. Plugging the entrance helps to deter small predators from crawling down the tunnel and finding the earthworm.
  
  

Expert Advice

• In order to help increase earthworms in the garden, it is good to feed them in the autumn. Earthworms need to come out onto the surface at night to pull items such as fallen leaves into their burrows. In the autumn, the nights are colder and it more difficult for the worms to get food. One way to help them is to take fallen leaves and stab them into the soil with a spade. Then plant a winter-growing crop such as clover or winter rye. In the spring, till the crop into the soil.