How long have you been mulching? Are there any other gardeners/greenhouses nearby that you could ask for local earthworms? I know that's a dry and dusty area, but hope that you are wrong about there being no earthworms. I would not think that boxed earthworms could survive here (there) and I would worry about introducing a species that would disrupt the natives. I have gardener friends in Abilene and Mineral Wells that have worms :-)

If you can't find any by fall when it cools down a bit, I can mail you some from Fort Worth.

I have a mound of tree mulch that is 5 feet tall. It has been there for over two years. I went out today dug underneath it into the soil beneath. U dug out two shovela full and did not find a single worm even the soil was moist and cool.

Oh, that is disconcerting. Send your address by private message and I'll send you some localish worms when it cools down.

I did some Google searches trying to find the name of a variety that does well in hot climates, but most of the information that comes up is on vermicomposting. I did learn that many earthworms found in soil all over the US had been unknowingly imported from Europe in the last couple of centuries in plant roots, etc. Some of them are okay and some are harmful to American ecology.

This is a good article about earthworms in general with photos showing how plants grow with and without earthworms. I always throw a couple of earthworms into new potting soil, but I didn't realize just how helpful they are to plant life.

An excerpt from the article:

"Earthworms are singularly considered to be
the best indicator of soil health. Low
densities can reflect numerous problems
with a soil, such as low pH, low organic
matter, low calcium, toxic residues, and
compacted or flooded soils. High
earthworm densities are associated with
well-drained, aerated, fertile soils."

It seems taking advantage of Pam's offer to mail earthworms to you is a good way to get started. Perhaps a soil test as suggested by Dan might be in order first to determine if there are toxic residues in the soil.

Here is my soil analysis.

You don't happen to be a big Sevin user, by chance? Realize not likely, but is one common garden pesticide known to be VERY toxic to earthworms, so something to check. Sometimes used on golf courses to reduce "bumps" caused by worms. There are others (Merit,...) to rule out if you regularly use pesticides on the lawn or garden.

Never used a pesticide as of yet.

So I did some digging around in my Greenhouse yesterday under the mulch that has been there since April. I did fine two super tiny worms. I mean things were tiny; maybe an inch long and as thin as sewing thread. The were on top of the soil in the composted mulch. I dug in several places and only found the two worms. I found them were it was wetter, so they come out when it is really wet. Never seen such a tiny worm. I would really like to see some larger ones.

Keep feeding them. They love used coffee grounds and veggie/fruit scraps. You're in an agricultural area aren't you? I recall that area being nothing but red soil planting fields and wind turbines. The lack of worms is probably related to agricultural activities nearby.

Get a bunch of worm castings from a garden supply store that sells natural products to amend your soil with. The worm poop is good fertilizer. All I know , is that after I used it the worm health of my garden increased dramatically. I think it has remnants of cocoons with eggs in it. All I know was that there was a definite upbeat in worms afterwards.

Two cents - May I suggest that you call your earthworms by feeding them. 2 ideas here:

1. It would help if the soil wasn't dry as a bone to begin with. Take your spade and crack open the earth, shove in some b&w newspaper. Sometimes wrinkled, sometime not. It probably helps if it is wet. Do this around your yard. Give it a month, 6 weeks or so, and go check again. B&W newspaper feeds worms. It made a big difference for me in a yard where the soil was very hard.

2. Another thing you can try is cornmeal. They love it.

Feed them and they will come. Google what earthworms eat.

Xtal

Coffee grounds have always helped increase earthworm populations for me. I used to get the 5lb bags from Starbucks and mix those into the garden. Lots of coffee shops will save grounds for you.