Ramsey County has halted mulch and compost distribution from its yard waste sites after invasive jumping worms were found at one location and suspected at another, issuing a fresh warning to Minnesota gardeners who may have recently brought material home.
The pause is meant to prevent the worms from spreading farther through neighborhood gardens and yards, where they can quickly damage the soil people rely on to grow plants, flowers, and food.
What happened?
After jumping worms were confirmed at Ramsey County’s Arden Hills yard waste site and suspected at the White Bear Township location, the county urged residents who recently picked up mulch or compost from a county site to inspect it, as the Star Tribune reported.
According to county officials, the problem was first detected June 28 at the Arden Hills site, and mulch distribution there was stopped right away. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources later verified the finding…