A heavy or Clay soil will have Bradleaf Dock (Rumex
obtusifolius), Wild Carrot (Daucus carota), Chicory (Cichorium
intybus),
Creeping Buttercup ( Ranunculus repens), English
Daisy (Bellis perennis), Dandelion (Taraxacum
officinale),
Mayweed (Arthemis cotula), Milkweed (Asclepius syriaca), Plantain (Plantago
major), Canada
Thistle (Cirsium arvense), and Wild Garlic (Allium
vineale).
Weeds that indicate a wet, poorly draining soil are: Hedge
Bindweed (Convolvulus Sepium), Bull sedge (Carex
lasiocarpa), Canada
goldenrod (Solidago graminifolia) Cattail (Typha
latifolia), Coltsfoot
(Tussilago farfara), Creeping buttercup (Ranunculus
repens),
Curly dock (Rumex crispus), Ox-Eye
Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum), Docks (Rumex sp.), Foxtail (Hordeum
jubatum), Goldenrods (Solidago sp.), Groundnut (Apios
americana),
Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum), Horsetail (Equisetum
arvense),
Jewelweed (Impatiens pallida), Joe-pye weed (Eupatorium
purpereum),
Lady’s thumb (Polygonum persicaria), Marsh Mallow (Althaea
Officinalis), May apple (Podophyllum peltatum), Meadow pink (Lychnis
floscuculi), Meadow Sweet (Astilbe sp), Mosses (all species),
Stinging
Nettles (Urtica urens), Pennsylvania smartweed (Polygonum
pensylvanicum), Ragwort, Tansy (Senecio jacobaea), Sheep sorrel (Rumex
acetosella), Silvery cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea), Sweet flag (Acorus
calamus), Tall buttercup (Ranuculus acris), Thyme-leafed speedwell
(Veronica serpyllifolia), Black
Willow (Salix sp.) If you see Dock, Horsetail, Foxtails, Willows,
Ox-eye Daisy, Goldenrod, Poison Hemlock, Rushes, Sedges and Joe-pye
you can expect soil in that area to experience soggy or swampy
conditions at some time of the year. Wet spots are obvious
during the rainy season but could appear fairly dry at other times.
These weeds are excellent indicators that the area will be soggy at
some time during the year.
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Pokeweed |
Weeds that grow in sandy soils are: Arrow-leafed Wild Lettuce (Lactuca
pulchella), Field
Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), White Cockle (Lychnis
alba),
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), Dog Fennel (Eupatorium capillidolium),
Goldenrods (Solidago sp.), Maltese Thistle (Centaurea
melitensis),
Sandbur (Cenchrus species), Small Nettle (Urtica urens), and Yellow
Toadflax (Linania vulgaris).
Weeds that indicate a hardpan soil are: Field Mustard (Brassica
nigra), Horse Nettle (Solanum carolinense), Morning Glory (Ipomoea
purpurea), Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), Pineapple Weed (Matricria
matricariodes), and Quack Grass (Agropyron repens). Bok choi,
broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and mustards grow well in this type of soil.
Previously cultivated soil will have theses weeds
predominately: Carpet Weed (Mullugo verticillata), Chickweed (Stellaria
media), Dandelion (Taraxacum officinate), Lamb’s Quarter (Chenopodium
album), Plantain (Plantago major), Purslane (Portulaca
oleracea),
Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), and Rough Pigweed (Aramanth
family).
Individual weeds that indicate a soil’s nutrient values are useful in
determining if the soil is unbalanced. Annual Bluegrass (Poa
annua) indicates very low calcium, low humus, low bacterial count, and
high magnesium levels. Burdock grows in soils very high
in iron and sulfate, and very low levels of calcium and manganese.
Buckhorn Plantain indicate very low levels of calcium, low
humus levels, and very high in chlorine, magnesium, potassium, and
sodium. Common Chickweed and Mouse Ear Chickweed indicate
very low calcium and phosphorus levels, and very high potassium and
sodium levels. Crabgrass indicates very low levels of
calcium and phosphorus, low pH, low humus, very high chlorine levels,
and high levels of magnesium and potassium.
