the link below states:

"Agricultural soils generally support less than 100 nematodes in each teaspoon (dry gram) of soil. Grasslands may contain 50 to 500 nematodes, and forest soils generally hold several hundred per teaspoon."

so .. of course you have them ....

some are good .. some are bad ... and most.. most likely benign ...

perhaps you can take the time to read the link.. and narrow the focus of your concern ...

but the bottom line is usually ... unless you ID a problem .. dont go looking for a cure ...

good luck

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: link

albert....signs of a bad infestation of plant-parasitic nematodes include:

* general plant decline
* unexplained wilting
* off color
* stunting
* early maturing fruit that are very small
* distortion of above soil parts
* root lesions, stunting, and distortion of root system
* obvious nodules from the root-knot nematode

Nematode symptoms are often noticed on lawns quite early on in an infestation, while it may take longer for the symptoms to show up in other plants.

The only way to be certain of the extent of the population of bad nematodes is to properly collect a soil sample for a nematode population count (called 'assay)). A nematode assay will identify the nema species and the population discovered. You will be given a population range from acceptable to excessive so that a comparison is possible. Please know that healthy plants can withstand some pressure from these parasitic species....stressed out plants find it more difficult.

When I am trouble-shooting plant or crop problems for a client and suspect nematodes, I have to look at the species of plant, the soil type, climate (location), and cultural conditions.

Many parasitic nematodes are very specific as to the kind of plant they can use as host species...so that's one of the biggest clues. I'd expect some different critters in my veggie garden (for example) than my lawn.

Nematodes (of all kinds good and bad) thrive in good, healthy soil free from excessive compaction, clay, or moisture. They love, love, love, sandy or loamy soils that see regular irrigation or rainfall.

Even troublesome populations of parasitic nematodes can be prevented from causing serious symptoms by concentrating on growing plants with the healthiest root systems possible. That, of course, means paying attention to the soil system.