How to determine the characteristics of the soil by weeds

  • Jun 11, 2021
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Weeds growing on the site must be fought. However, it is important not to overdo it, trying to destroy them completely. Weed plants also have a number of advantages, being not only pests, but also assistants for gardeners. They help slow down soil drainage and are a distraction in pest control. Also, with the help of weeds, it is easy to determine the soil composition and its acidity.

Weeds. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Weeds. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Weeds. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

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The problem of getting rid of plantings from weeds is faced by all site owners. It should be remembered that you should not strive to completely rid the planting of harmful aggressors, and it is almost impossible to accomplish this. Garden weeds can be used as the mulch that makes up the compost heap. Another important detail - weeds can tell the summer resident about the properties and composition of the soil in the beds.

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What the weeds show

If you notice that weeds of a certain type have grown on the site, then you can be sure that this is not an accident. Weeds, like cultivated plants, love and choose a certain type of soil. Therefore, you can easily determine the type of soil in the garden by its weed inhabitants.

Woodlice (stellate, heart herb)

Herbaceous undersized crop, characterized by shade tolerance. Grows in humid low places. If wood lice have started up in your garden, you can be calm - the exuberant growth of the plant indicates the fertility of the soil composition. But pay attention to the need for additional soil drainage, as the plant prefers compacted soil with poor permeability.

Woodlice. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Woodlice. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Gardener's actions. Starfish is difficult to eradicate completely. During the season, the plant can form a huge number of seeds - up to 15 thousand. When weeding, remove the weed along with the root system to avoid rooting. The plant is able to start new shoots from a small piece of not completely removed stem or a small root.

The benefits of the plant. Woodlice can be eaten, it has a rich vitamin composition. Also, the plant can be added to the food of living creatures - chickens, ducks, geese and pigs will not refuse such a treat.

Thrown back amaranth

Annual aggressive culture. The weed chooses loose, with good air exchange, nitrogen-rich soil. Grows exclusively on fertile loamy soils. The presence of amaranths on the site indicates a sufficient amount of humic substances in the beds.

Gardener's actions. Prevent the weed from forming seeds - remove the plant before flowering. Otherwise, a weed crop will give 300-500 thousand seeds per season, which retain germination properties for more than one decade.

The benefits of the plant. A relative of the plant is such a food crop, loved by many as quinoa. The weed has a rich composition of vitamins and protein. However, people do not eat it. But for rabbits and pigs, amaranth is an excellent food.

Big plantain

Plantain is a weed with a fibrous root system. The plant is resistant to adverse environmental conditions and insensitivity to trampling and mechanical stress. Indicates high acidity, excessive compaction, poor ventilation of the soil cover.

Gardener's actions. Add deoxidizing and soil-improving materials, loosen the soil in the beds and treat the lawn with an aerator or methodically pierce it with a conventional pitchfork. Effectively prune the rosette of leaves, after which the weed does not grow back.

Small-flowered Halinsoga

An annual weed that aggressively invades vegetable gardens and orchards. It settles on well-moistened, fertile soils with a loose structure. The owners of the plots should not be upset when they notice galingosis in the beds - its abundant growth indicates the high quality of the soil and the abundance of nutrients in its composition.

Gardener's actions. Weed fertile weeds in a timely manner. If the plant is allowed to bloom, it can produce up to 30 thousand seeds that remain viable for 3-5 years.

The benefits of the plant. Some gardeners use the weed as food. The herb is especially often used as an aromatic spice.

Medicinal dandelion

Dandelion is perhaps the most common weed among other crops that infest plantings. The annoying plant prefers too dense, acidic soil. Indicates a lack of calcium and an excess of potassium in the soil.

Dandelion. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com
Dandelion. Illustration for this article is used under a standard license © ofazende.com

Gardener's actions. Be sure to weed the weed before flowering. Remove the weed along with the root. To get rid of soil density, aerate the soil cover with a pitchfork or other special device. Conduct a soil analysis to determine acidity - at a high level, deoxidize it with fertilizers.

The benefits of the plant. The plant is edible. Not only stems and leaves are eaten, but also weed flowers. They are added to salads, jam is made.

A big mistake is the opinion of uneducated representatives of humanity that weeds are an accidental component of the flora. This is not so - in nature everything is balanced, each component of the plant world has its own purpose and is the carrier of a certain function. You should not be too zealous to start fighting weeds, but you should not let them multiply in the beds. If you reduce the number of aggressor plants on the site to a minimum, the crops grown will delight you with proper development and a generous harvest.

Do you know how to determine the characteristics of the soil by weeds?

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