ANTC™ All Natural Turf Care Clippings

The above photos were taken today of two dandelions growing in my backyard. I believe them to be a good example of “What do weeds tell us about the soil?”

If you have dandelions growing in your yard like my “Very Healthy Dandelion” then your soil conditions are closer to the gravelly nature of this soil: compacted sandy sediment, low in organic matter, and very low in calcium.

On the other hand if your dandelions are similar to my “Anemic Dandelion” then congratulations your soil conditions are progressing to the point where they favor growing grass. Your organic matter is improving and being acted upon by the indigenous soil biology. The pH of the soil is at our near 6.5.  The availability of phosphorous should be low. Most importantly calcium levels should be high.

Patience, improving soil conditions and proper cultural practices will all have an effect in changing your dandelion crop from “Very Healthy” to “Anemic”.

Due to our extreme winter weather and a wet cool spring, we’ve heard and seen more outbreaks of chickweed in turf than we have in probably six or seven years. Chickweed leaves are opposite, egg-shaped and pointed at the apex. It has a small star-shaped white flower. Chickweed will grow to a height of 3 – 7 inches. A couple of things to keep in mind with regards to common chickweed:
• First it is a winter annual. It will likely die off as warmer temperatures arrive especially from areas that are not moist and shaded.
• Grows in areas of poor turf density.
• Has a short fibrous root system.

Like most forms of weed control in an organic lawn improving turf density is critical to controlling common chickweed. Once the sunny warm weather appears common chickweed is going to die off leaving bare ground for the next weed to appear. At this time of the season the best recommendation would be to seed slice those areas where there is chickweed as soon as possible. Because of chickweed’s poorly developed root system the act of seed slicing should take care of the existing root system.

Also check those areas where you over-seeded early this season. Again, due to the cooler wetter spring we experienced this year the soil temperature may not have reached the ideal range 60⁰ + to get the cool season grasses to germinate as such it may warrant putting down additional seed to save yourself headaches later this season.