What Weeds Tell You About Your Soil (2024)

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Using Weeds to Read the Soil

Read your weeds! They are an indicator of your soil’s health.If you have large patches of one kind of weed, your garden is trying to tell you something. Here are common weeds and what they say about your soil—plus photos. Let us know what youlearn!

When weeds arrive, it’s oftenan index of what is wrong (though sometimes what is right) with the soil.For example, weeds with deep taproots, such as dandelionsand burdock, indicate compacted soillacking in water, air, andnutrients.

However, weeds are alsonature’s way of repairing the soil for a more stable, healthy system. In the case of dandelions and burdock, theirdeep, strongroots also help break up thatsoil.

Weeds are not inherently the problem.They are a symptom and generally a troubled system.Learning to read the weeds as clues to our soil’s condition can help the soil recover. Inthe meantime,we can cultivate plants that fit our soil and also use the weeds that arepresent.

Common Weeds and What They Say AboutSoil

Before you pull a weed, consider what it’s telling you. Is your soillacking nutrients? Do you have an excess of fertilizer? Is your soil not draining well? Is it too compacted? Let’s findout!

• Bindweed(Convolvulus arvensis) grows in crusty or compactedsoil.

• Chickweed(Stellariamedia orCerastium spp.) andchicory(Chicorium sp.) like rich soil—high in nitrogen—and will grow well in alkaline, compactedsoil.

• Common groundsel(Senecio vulgaris) is an indicator of richsoil.

• Crabgrass(Digitaria spp.) grows where the soil has been depleted of nutrients and is low incalcium.

• Dandelions(Taraxacum officinale)generally indicate poor soil that is low in calcium and compacted. The dandelions’ taproots, however, are doing the job of breaking up the soil! Look into aerating your soil so it’s not compacted. In the meantime, check out our dandelion recipes!

• Dock(Rumex spp.) and goldenrod(Solidago spp.) grow in wet, poorly drainedsoil.

• Fragile fern (Cystopteris fragilis)growsin near-neutral, dry conditions. This pretty fern is the weed of the fernery and will propagate and overpower all otherplants.

• Henbit(Lamium amplexicaule) indicates highnitrogen.

• Knapweed(Centaureaspp.) indicates rich soil, high inpotassium.

• Knotweed(Polygonum spp.) grows where the ground iscompacted.

• Lambsquarters(Chenopodium album) indicates rich soil, high innitrogen.

• Mossof most kinds indicatesoggy, acidic soil that is low innutrients.

• Mullein(Verbascum thapsus) grows in acidic soil with lowfertility.

• Mustard(Brassica spp.) grows in dry, sandy soil, high inphosphorus.

• Ostrich fern(Matteuccia struthiopteris) indicates an exceptionally fertilelocation.

• Oxalis, or wood sorrel, indicates low calcium and highmagnesium.

• Ox-eye daisies(Leucanthemum vulgare) grow in acidic, often soggy soil with poorfertility.

• Pearly everlasting(Anaphalis margaritacea) grows in acid soil that is low innutrients.

• Peppergrass(Lepidium verginicum) indicates sweetsoil.

• Plantain(Plantago spp.) grows in compacted, sour soil with low fertility and often indicates heavy clay. Like prostrate knotweed, it has evolved to survive being trampled and can grow in heavily trafficked gardenpaths.

• Pigweed (Amaranthus spp.) growsin rich soil with high levels of readily availablenitrogen.

• Purslane(Portulacaoleracea) prefers rich soil and is an indicator of high phosphorus. Like dandelions, purslane is edible and offers health benefits. Make the most of your common weed education and explore some purslanerecipes.

• Quackgrass(Elymusrepens) will grow in heavy clay or compactedsoil.

• Queen Anne’s lace(Daucus carota) grows where the soil is poor, but on the sweetside.

• Ragweed(Ambrosia spp.) indicates lowfertility.

• Stinging nettle(Urtica dioica) grows in rich, acidicsoil.

• Sheep sorrel(Rumexacetosella) indicates dry, sandy, acidic soil depleted of nutrients and low incalcium.

• Yarrow(Achilleamillefolium)grows wherepotassium and fertility are low and the soil is sandy anddry.

Using ThisInformation

The weeds listed aboveprovide important clues about your soil’s fertility. Use this information to your advantage when amending your soil or deciding what to plantwhere.

If you have a hard time identifying your garden weeds, look at this list of common weeds.

After discovering what they mean, find out how to get rid of your weeds if you sodesire.

Dandelions and purslane are not the only edible weeds! Find out which of these weedsyou can eat.

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