There’s a well known phrase that ‘a weed is a plant in the wrong place.’ What may not be well known is the fact that we can use weeds to read the message they send us concerning the state of our garden soil.
Indicator weeds, as they are commonly called, can tell us whether soil is acid or alkaline, wet or dry, compacted or poorly drained. So before the new growing season starts, wander round your garden, take note of the weeds you find and their distribution, and use what they tell you to take remedial action if necessary. I have featured below some of the more common weeds and their associated habitat and if you are uncertain about the identity of some of your specimens hot foot it to the library, bookshop or Google to check them out.
Take dandelions for example. With their long roots and prolific seeds they cause gardeners much angst. However, instead of wailing at their presence, congratulate yourself that they, along with the milky sapped spurges and chickweed, are telling you that your patch is rich in humus and ripe for cultivation. When chickweed is present with red dead nettle, borage and speedwell, you can be happy that your garden is high in nutrients and only needs a regular application of organic matter to maintain fertility.
Silverweed on the other hand signals that your soil has become compacted and would benefit from some deep digging, adding organic matter and sowing green manures. The same message is conveyed by the presence of plantain and creeping buttercup and all three proliferate on the green patch I optimistically call ‘the lawn.’ This in turn is evidence of my perennial preoccupation with the vegetable garden rather than the Flymo!
