Question
i live in southern ocean county new jersey and our soil is very sandy. how do i cultivate worm growth in my soil.
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Followup To

Question -
what do i do with the plants once they have finished blooming.  this year they are spectacular. this is the 4th year they have been in my garden.

joan

Answer -
We are talking about Stargazer Lilies here, Joan?  There's a reason these beautiful Lilies are the most popular hybrid going.

Given that you have been growing these for 4 years, and are getting excellent results, it appears you would know exactly what to do with your Lilies after they are finished.  Perhaps I misunderstand you?

Cut off the spent bloom as soon as it begins to fade.  This is true of all Lilies.  You do not want them to go to seed.  All energy should go back into the bulb for future show and tell.  Unless you are breeding your own Lilies, do not let them set seed.  It will only compromise next year's show.

Fertilize with a high Phosphorous fertilizer to encourage future blooms and later with a balanced fertilizer that will strengthen your Lily.  Don't fertilize after the end of this month; resume next spring when next growth sprouts out of the ground.

This year I mulched Dahlias, Lilies and Roses with Starbucks coffee grounds.  I can tell you that slugs did not visit any Lilies that were surrounded by a mulch of coffee.  As the grounds go into the ground (1), earthworms are attracted to them and they decompose into a wonderful, rich mulch.  

I also strongly recommend you run down to Starbucks at the end of every day and get several free bags of their used coffee.  Not many people are asking, but they are giving it away, and some outlets have special silver bags just made for this.  And they are FREE!  These are GREAT for Lilies of all kinds.

Otherwise, keep a good thing going - it sounds like you have your act together, and I'll bet your neighbors are wishing they had your green thumb.  Carry on, Joan!

Answer
Excellent question, my friend.

You need high levels of Organics to support a healthy Earthworm population.  And you can avoid damaging that population by avoiding anything that will reduce the microbes and other factors that Earthworms count on - excessive disturbance of soil by rototilling, for example, or pesticides.

The USDA devotes a full section of its website to Earthworms (soils.usda.gov/sqi/concepts/soil_biology/earthworms.html) to emphasize the key role these Annelidas play in healthy soil.  

Not all Earthworms are created equal.  To quote the USDA: "The family of earthworms that is most important in enhancing agricultural soil is Lumbricidae, which includes the genuses Lumbricus, Aporrectodea, and several others."  Earthworms dine on friendly fungi that begin to appear in healthy soil.

To make your sandy soil Earthworm-friendly, incorporate grass clippings (from Organic lawns only), Oak leaves, the previously praised Starbucks coffee grounds, manure from as many sources are you can find, and humus into your sandy soil.  A dose of compost tea will accelerate the microbial population and build the foundation for more Earthworms.  I can post a recipe if you need one.

You don't have to over-work your sandy soil to mix in these amendments - think of the directions on how to make a cake, where they warn you not to overmix lest the cake be too heavy.  Same deal with your sandy soil.  Night Crawlers (Lumbricus terrestris) take on the work of moving Organic matter through soil.  When you do less tilling, Organic matter collects at the soil surface, and Earthworms multiply.  Do this two or three times a year.  Your Earthworms will think they died and went to heaven.  Which is just perfect.

It will take time.  But that's the way God planned it.  Be patient and diligent.  Your soil will amaze you.