It does sound yucky! No wonder you want to get rid of them.

One resource I checked says that nematodes are microscopic and only laboratory tests will confirm their presence because they can’t be seen with the naked eye. If you had nematodes, roots will be swollen, knubby or stunted. If you find roots like that dispose of them (don’t compost) and solarization of your soil will kill them. If you want directions for solarization just write back and I will tell you.

Then I looked for ‘round worms’ but couldn’t find anything. I did find ‘wireworms’ with the symptoms showing tunnels in stems and roots, sometimes they are slimy tunnels. Seedlings become yellow and the plant stunted. Plants will wilt in the heat of the day. There are organic controls for wireworms and if anyone needs help with them let me know.

Since neither of these sound like what you are talking about I have a suggestion that will take some extra effort on your part but will get you exact information. Take a sample of the worms into your County Extension Office; they should have someone on staff that will closely examine the worm and give you suggestions of control. This is a free service offered all over the U.S. and you can find their phone number in the government section of your phone book. They may be able to help you over the phone; especially if they have been getting many inquiries about this situation. (I guess it really isn’t free, you pay for it with tax dollars!)

Write back and post what you find out. I am curious and it might help someone else.

Happy Gardening, Diane