Only accept plants...

• From gardeners that have looked for jumping worms 
• That don't come from an area known to have jumping worms.
• If there is no evidence (like soil that resembles coffee grounds) to suspect there are jumping worms at the site that produced these plants/materials.

Use these practices to prevent their spread:

• Remove soil from all plants before transporting them
  • This limits the spread of weeds and worms by removing most earthworm egg cases or weed seeds.
• Wash roots
  • Completely submerge plant roots in water and wash away remaining soil.
  • Actively look for worms.
  • Once clean, protect roots for transportation and sale. 
  • Water is enough to remove soil and other materials from the roots.
• Sell bare-root plants when possible.
• Repot with clean potting soil 
  • If plants must be sold in soil, repot with sterile potting soil. 
  • The best way to ensure clean soil is to purchase, from a reputable dealer, bagged and weed and pathogen-free potting soil.
• Inspect mulch for signs of jumping worms
  • Do not use mulch, backyard compost, leaves, or other material that may harbor jumping worm eggs or weed seeds. 
  • Purchase materials from a reliable source.  
  • Consider waiting to add materials to the garden to determine if signs of jumping worms develop 
• Reduce chances of contamination
  • Gather and transport plants ready for sale on surfaces like concrete, tarps, or trays where the newly potted plants cannot pick up contaminated soil, leaves, or mulch.
  • Thoroughly clean garden tools and shoes after use.

Learn more about jumping worms in this blog post.

Learn more about Illinois invasive species.