Weeds can be used as indicators of soil conditions and as environmental indicators. You can then use this information to help create the best possible conditions for lawns and your turf grass What weeds are present has a direct effect on what herbicides to use. This is a key factor that impacts herbicide selection in turfgrass management. Weeds help indicate soil conditions. Using them as indicator weeds is the first step in getting an idea of what may be affecting turf growth. Don't make any decision based solely on the presence of one weed. For example, some weeds like Sorrel like multiple soil conditions. When you see weeds your first reaction should be why are they there? This is much better than simply reaching for the spray bottle and applying a pre-emergent weedkiller or post-emergent herbicide! Indicator weeds are plants whose presence is due to the soil type, soil moisture, soil fertility, pollution, or soil disturbance. When it comes to sports turf, many weeds can provide insights into turf management and environmental conditions.

1. 2023 What do weeds tell us about
the soil?

2. Weeds can be used as indicators of soil conditions and as environmental indicators.
You can then use this information to help create the best possible conditions for lawns
and your turf grass.
Don’t rely on the presence or absence of one weeb but try and see if there are a few
different indicator weeds before making any decision.
What weeds are present also has a direct affect on what herbicides to use to control
them and is a key factor affecting herbicide performance in turfgrass systems

3. Indicator weeds are plants that are present due to factors like soil type, soil moisture,
soil fertility, pollution, or soil disturbance.

4. To manage weeds properly you needs three things:
Correctly identify
Identify a weed with the
turf weed ID chart.
Determine what conditions favour
it
Compaction
Disturbed soil
Wet
Dry
Nutrient issues
shade
Take action
Manage conditions
accordingly
As a last option use a
herbicide

5. Examples
Soil Fertility
● White Clover
● Stinging Nettle
● Black Medic
● Redroot pigweed
● Chickweed
● Knapweed
● Summergrass
● Dandelion
● Oxalis sp
Soil pH
● Oxalis
● Plantain
● Summergrass
● ox-eye daisies
● Sheep sorrel
● knotweed indicate acid soils.
● Chickweed
● Chicory
Wet soil
● Sedge
● Yellow nutgrass
● Purslane
● Docks
● Chickweed

6. Soil Fertility
● Certain weeds will indicate nutrient
deficiencies or excesses.

7. Soil pH
● The presence of certain weeds indicates
the soil pH.
● For example, correctly identify the weed
and it gives a good indication of whether
you need to lime or not.

8. Wet Soil
● Docks, chickweed, sedges and horsetail
are all indicators that your soil is holding
water

9. The entire article
is here.
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