Ranger275 - Adventures in the 2nd Dimension: Indicator Plants

Ranger275;2461330 said:

Howdy Folks,
Gaia speaks to us in many ways, if we have ears to listen. When I plan a garden I always inventory the extant veg to see what kind of soil and conditions are present in the area. I do the same for all GuerillaGrows. The plants below are clues to the mystery of our pretty little planet.

Agrimony = Dry
Artemisia maritima = Salty
Aster = Wet
Bellflower (Campanula spp.) = Hi-pH/alkaline
Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) = Sandy
Buttercups (Ranunculus acris) = Wet and clay
Carpetweed (Mollugo verticullata) = Crust/hardpan
Cattail (Typha latifolia) = Wet
Chickweed (Stellaria media) = Hi-fertility
Chicory (Cichorium intybus) = Clay, hi-fertility
Cinquefoil (Potentilla argentea) = Dry, acidic
Clovers (Trifolium spp.) = Low-N
Coltsfoot = Wet, acidic
Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus) = Sandy
Dandelion = Clay, acidic
Docks (Rumex spp.) = Wet, acidic
Fat hen (Atriplex hastata) = Hi-fertility
Goldenrods (Solidago spp.) = Wet, sandy
Henbit (Camium amplexicaule) = Low-fertility
Joe-pye weed = Wet
Knapweeds (Centaurea nigra) = Hi-K, acidic
Knotweed (Polygonum aviculare) = Acidic
Lamb's quarters (Chenopodium album) = Hi-fertility
Lupines = Low-N
Mayweed (Anthemis cotula) = Clay, acidic
Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) = Clay
Mullein (Verbascum spp.) = Acidic, low-fertility
Mustards (Brassica spp.) = Acidic
Pansy (Viola spp.) = Acidic
Pinks (Dianthus spp.) = Low-N
Rape (Brassica hapus) = Low-N
Shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) = Sandy, salty
Sorrels (Rumex spp.) = Wet, sandy and acidic
Speedwell (Veronica spp.) = Dry
Spurges (Euphorbia spp.) = Dry
Vetches (Vicia spp.) = Low-N
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) = Low-K

While these indicators may not be as good as a full-blown soil test from your local Extension Service, they are pretty accurate and can be read for trends also. See them as an overview, meaning 1 isolated clump of Yarrow doesn't mean your field is bereft of K, while ravening hordes of Pinks (while lovely) clearly show a need for N. Use common sense and try to identify shapes/trends of growth.

Hope this helps.
RLTW

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