What do weeds tell me about my garden soil?
The presence of weeds in a yard isn’t always a bad thing. They can nourish your earth and be a useful barometer of the kind of soil you have. Photo by Marek Levak from Pexels
I really hate weeding. There are days it requires all the strength I have to get out there and pull these tough tufts of green from between my rows of carefully tended beans and peas. But there are reasons to like weeds, or at least respect them.
First, weeds are good for your soil. They're resilient enough to grow pretty much everywhere, no matter how poor or barren the earth. They cover and give soil life, much like a living mulch. And seasonal cycles of weeds growing and dying build up nutrients in the soil and make way for larger plants, like shrubs and trees. Without weeds, the natural landscape we love would be very different.
Weeds also tell you a lot about your soil. Before pulling your weeds try reading what they have to say about your planting area. Weeds can signal whether you have soil that’s low in nutrients, high in acid, or even waterlogged. I highly recommend buying a field guide to weeds growing in your region so you can learn from them.
Soggy Soil
Weeds that signal soggy soil: Dock, horsetails, chickweed, sedge, and willows
What to do about it: Wet and soggy soils are hard to drain and frankly not worth messing with. Besides, given that wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate, it’s probably better for the • planet if you just let it be.
Compacted Soil
Weeds that signal compacted soil: Chicory, knotweed, dandelion, and bindweed
What to do about it: Packed soil limits the ability of plants to extend their roots and absorb vital nutrients for growth. A good way to break up the soil is to plant it with a cover crop like clover or vetch in the fall. The roots can punch through the soil, loosening it in time for the next season’s crop. Another option is to use a broadfork, which is a large heavy four- pronged steel fork that loosens the soil without having to till it.
Acidic Soil
Weeds that signal acidic soil: Plantain, sorrel, and stinging nettle
What to do about it: Soil that is acidic has a very low pH and, unless you are growing blueberries, you don't want your soil to be acidic because your plants will struggle to survive. You can change your soil pH by adding lime, follow instructions from the supplier. The lower your pH, the more lime you will need. If you don’t want to add lime, you can plant blueberries, rhubarb, endive, shallots, potatoes or watermelon in that area because they can tolerate soils as low as 5.0 pH.
Basic Soil
Weeds that signal basic soil: Queen Anne’s lace, chicory, peppergrass, and chickweed
What to do about it: Basic soil is alkaline, which is another way of saying it has a very high pH. A high pH is usually a result of calcium-rich bedrock. Treating basic soils with elemental sulfur quickly lowers the pH, but I prefer adding lots of compost instead because it yields a bigger return. Compost acts to buffer the soil and prevent sudden changes in pH. The complex molecular structure of compost provides a great deal of hydrogen atoms, lowering pH and enhancing soil’s ability to hold onto nutrients. Another option is to plant your basic soil with asparagus or members of the cucumber family, which do just fine in a high pH environment.
Fertile Soil
Weeds that signal fertile soil: Foxtail, chicory, purslane, and lambsquarters
What to do about it: Every gardener dreams about having fertile soil, but the downside is that weeds love it too. This means you have to be highly vigilant about removing weeds as soon they crop up and before they start to seed, or they’ll wreak havoc on the rest of your plants.
Dry and Sandy Soil
Weeds that signal dry and sandy soil: Sorrel, thistle, yarrow, and nettle
What to do about it: Sandy soil is not a terrible thing. In fact, many vegetables love the loose, well-drained stuff. Best way to deal with this is to grow plants that love living in it, which include carrots, beets, onion, and garlic. Toss in some extra compost for a nutrient-boost.
Heavy Clay Soil
Weeds that signal heavy clay soil: Plantain, nettle, and quack grass
What to do about it: Most plants have a difficult time thriving in heavy clay because the dense soil makes it difficult for healthy roots to develop. But some plants do just fine in this dense environment, including shallow-rooted annuals, like lettuce, chard, and beans, which appreciate the moisture. And deep-rooted, top-heavy crops, like broccoli and cabbage, which benefit from the stability offered by clay.
Acadia Tucker and Nimbus, her farm dog. Image source: Michael Winters photography
Acadia Tucker is a regenerative farmer, climate activist, and author of Growing Perennial Foods: A field guide to raising resilient herbs, fruits & vegetables and Growing Good Food: A Citizen’s Guide to Backyard Carbon Farming. She currently lives in Maine and New Hampshire with her farm dog, Nimbus. When she isn't raising perennials in her own backyard, she grows hops to support locally sourced craft beer in New England.
