Can Weeds Indicate Soil Conditions?
Weeds can tell you a lot about the environment they are growing in. There are certain types of weeds that only grow in acidic soil, and some that prefer an alkaline environment. Some plants thrive in hard, compacted soil while others grow in wetter conditions. Not only do weeds tell you what your soil conditions are like, they can also improve the quality of your soil when you compost them by delivering beneficial minerals and elements to it.

Weeds are opportunistic and will grow where other plants often cannot. They survive by adapting and taking in minerals and nutrients from the air, even when the soil is deficient. Because of their ability to pull nutrients from the environment, they are often filled with beneficial elements that are wonderful for soil. To reap the benefits of these weeds, it is best to pull the weeds when they are fully grown but before they have sprouted to seed. After they have wilted for a couple of days, add them to your compost pile. The decomposing weeds will soon supply your soil with nutrients that will enhance the quality.

Inspecting the weeds in your garden is a good way to determine the conditions of your soil. Acidic soil, for instance, has a low pH that is attractive to plants such as knotweed, moss, daisy, buttercup, horsetail, dandelion, stinging nettle, sheep sorrel, mullein, and plantains. Alkaline soil has a high pH that Queen Anne's Lace, chicory, and salad burnet thrive in. Plants that prefer neutral soil are purple deadnettle, daisy, and chickweed. It is important to note that certain weeds such as dandelion and daisy are more adaptable and can grow in a variety of soil conditions.

Soil pH is not the only condition that indicates the type of weeds that will grow. Dry soil will grow pigweed, nettle, cat's ear, mullein, yarrow, thistle, mustard, sheep sorrel, and speedwell. Soil that is hard, crusty, and compacted is usually home to field mustard, chickweed, dandelion, thistle, plantain, knotweed, quack grass, dock, and bindweed (morning glory). Weeds that grow in wet or moist soil include bindweed, buttercup, moss, quack grass, knotweed, horsetail, Joe-Pye Weed, hairy bittercress, dock, chickweed, and clover.

The fertility of soil often determines what weeds will grow. Weeds that grow in fertile soil are chicory, chickweed, purple deadnettle, purslane, stinging nettle, pigweed, mugwort, dandelion, clover, and lamb's quarters. Low fertility soil is usually home to crab grass, daisy, clover, mugwort, plantain, ragweed, thistle, yarrow, vetch, dandelion, sheep sorrel, mullein, and Queen Anne's Lace.

Since weeds like dandelion can thrive in almost any soil conditions, it is advised to look for other types of weeds in the surrounding area to determine the environment and conditions of your soil. Once you ascertain the state of the soil in your garden you can use this information to better the health of your plants and take steps to adjust the soil for the plants you want to grow.

It doesn't take long for weeds to start taking over a garden or lawn, and once there they can be notoriously tricky to get rid of. Removing weeds from the lawn might seem like a never-ending battle, but fortunately there are some things you can do to keep weed invasions at bay.

One of the most helpful ways to start controlling weed growth is determining what kinds of weeds are growing in your yard. Weeds fall into several different categories, which are broadleaf, grassy, and grass-like. Broadleaf weeds have flat and broad leaves that are relatively smooth and do not have needles. Weeds of this variety include chickweed, clover, ground ivy, and dandelions. Grassy weeds are distinguished by their long blade-like leaves that grow individually instead of in clusters. Foxtail, annual bluegrass, and crabgrass are some examples of grassy weeds. Grass-like weeds include nutsedge, wild garlic, and wild onion. These weeds often have leaves that are tubular, hollow, or triangular, which distinguishes them from grassy weeds that have flat leaves.

Weeds with shallow roots, which include annual weeds like chickweed and crabgrass, are most efficiently eliminated by pulling them out by hand. The hand-pulling method is also ideal if your yard contains a few clusters of weeds here and there. Many of the broadleaf weeds, in contrast, are perennial weeds. They have deeper root systems that easily regenerate. This means that if you don't pull out the entire root, the plant can quickly and easily grow back. Therefore, it is best to eliminate these kinds of weeds with a a more aggressive form of weed control, such as using a weed-killing product. An artificial weed killer is also a suggested choice for a yard with more extensive weed coverage. There are a few types of man-made weed killing products to choose from, and they are generally categorized as either spot-treatment products or blanket products, which are designed for spraying over a larger surface area. Spot treatment works best for small patches of weeds. Since weed killing products can harm non-weed growth too, it is ideal to use them as sparingly as possible. Before purchasing a product, check to see what types of weeds it is designed to kill, and check with a local expert if you're not sure. Otherwise, you risk damaging your lawn beyond what is necessary. If the volume of weeds to grass in your yard is disproportionate, meaning there are more weeds than desired growth, consider getting a weed-and-feed weed controller. This type of product will simultaneously destroy weeds while nourishing the surrounding grass with food. Proper lawn feeding is one way to stop weed growth, and it is often considered to be a sound preventative measure that stops weed growth before it starts. Therefore, by getting a product that does both, you'll get rid of the existing weed problem and simultaneously prevent future weed invasions.

Another consideration before selecting a weed control product is the time of year that you'll be using it. It's best to start combating the annual weeds, which are mostly the grassy weeds, in spring, so that their growth is curtailed before the summer months. Feeding a lawn regularly, watering it deeply, and mowing grass higher can also help reduce or stop weed growth.