• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Fifth Season Gardening

Curbside Pick Up, Nursery, Garden Center

  • Stores
  • About Us
  • Tips
  • Blog
  • Hemp
  • Wholesale
  • Hydroponics
  • Homebrew
  • Organic Gardening
  • Home & Garden
  • Shop

How weeds can help you understand your garden

May 26, 2015 by fifthseason 1 Comment

Screen Shot 2015-05-26 at 2.51.47 PMAs cultivators, we are constantly competing with mother nature for growing space. If a space in your yard is left bare, you can be certain that some type of weed is going to move in, if the conditions are in its favor. Weeds, just like cultivated plants, thrive in conditions that are favorable for them to be successful.

By observing the most prevalent types of weeds growing in one area, we can get an idea of the soil’s pH, nutrition content, moisture, compaction and can even help identify the depth of fresh ground water.

Below is a list of a few of the most commonly known weeds that can be easily identified in the southeast, and what soil conditions they indicate. These weeds are only a few of the many species that can be useful in helping identify your soil’s characteristics.

Low pH, or Acidic Soil
red sorrel

High pH, or Alkaline Soil
true chamomile

Compacted Soil
common chick weed
knot weed

Dry, infertile Soil
yarrow
potato vine

Moist or Poorly Drained Soil
ground ivy
cat tail
violets
butter cup
golden rod
jewel weed

Moist, Fertile Soil
henbit
curled dock

Moist Infertile Soil
white clover

Highly Fertile Soil
purslane
lambs quarter
poke weed
dandelion
queen anne’s lace

Low-Fertitlity Soil
plantain

Compacted, Heavy soil
wild garlic

Next time you are in the garden looking for a space for your next planting, make sure to check in with these so-called weeds.  Whether you’re planning on planting ornamentals, fruit trees, or vegetables, a healthy population of certain types of weeds can serve as your ally. They can be one of several determining factors in making your planting successful, along with some organic amendments from your local Fifth Season store!

 

Filed Under: Organic Gardening Tagged With: Organic gardening, pH, planting, soil, soil conditions, soil pH, weeds

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Helen says

    November 9, 2016 at 1:37 pm

    I have never considered looking at the weeds in order to understand the composition of the soil. Most people know what their flowers or herbs need, but I guess we should also know what the weeds need. The only difference is that we want to keep the weeds away.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Latest Posts

  • Intro to Hydroponics Part IV: Maintaining Your System
  • How to build a Johnson-Su Bioreactor
  • 2020 in Plant Care Tips & Mistakes
  • Aging Beers
  • Fermenting for the Holidays: Basic Tools of the Trade & Easy DIY Holiday Gift Ideas

Archives

Search

Categories

  • Homebrew
  • Hydroponics
  • News
  • Organic Gardening
  • Uncategorized
  • Urban D.I.Y.

Footer

Quicklinks

  • Home
  • Buy A Gift Card
  • Brew-On-Premises
  • Wholesale
  • Employment

© Fifth Season Gardening, 2021
Sitemap | Privacy Policy | Site by The Splinter Group

Find a Store

  • Asheville
  • Carrboro
  • Charlottesville
  • Greensboro
  • Raleigh