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What weeds indicate soil Ph ?

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  • What weeds indicate soil Ph ?

    Hi all,
    One of the old chaps on our plot puts down lime - I'm considering it as there is a fair bit of creeping buttercup on the site which I believe indicates an acidic soil? Now, I know I could/should buy a testing kit but I try not to spend money if I can help it... Am I right about buttercup liking acidic soil? I've a vague recollection that nettles also like acid.
    What weeds would tend to indicate alkaline soil?

    Pip pip,
    Balders
    sigpic
    1574 gin and tonics please Monica, large ones.

  • #2
    I might be wrong but docs i seem to recall like acid soil and chickweed alkaline......sure some who knows more will be along shortly

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    • #3
      Yes, buttercups and daisies both like acid soil and you can really reduce their vigour and discourage their spread by adding lime.

      I'm fairly sure that speedwell (veronica persica) must be alkaline loving, 'cos since I limed the lawn to get rid of the B's & D's I now have loads of it. (But I think it's very pretty so leave it to flower, then mow it )
      Last edited by mothhawk; 08-04-2016, 06:57 PM.
      Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
      Endless wonder.

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      • #4
        My plot must be slightly alkaline then (must buy a testing kit on pay day!) as I had a fair bit of speedwell on the paths and chickweed EVERYWHERE last summer
        If I'm not on the Grapevine I can usually be found here!....https://www.thecomfreypatch.co.uk/

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        • #5
          Not a UK site, but it's still an interesting read!

          Look to the Weeds: Weeds as Soil Indicators
          "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

          Location....Normandy France

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          • #6
            My site is definitely acid but I've still got tonnes of chickweed so I'm not sure it's that particular

            Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

            Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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            • #7
              Same here Alison!
              "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

              Location....Normandy France

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              • #8
                and here too!

                Great link Nicos, seems I have very acidic, heavy clay that is regularly waterlogged.
                Oh dear.
                http://goneplotterin.blogspot.co.uk/

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                • #9
                  Originally posted by Nicos View Post
                  Not a UK site, but it's still an interesting read!

                  Look to the Weeds: Weeds as Soil Indicators
                  Don't know about all the article but it's incorrect re hydrangeas. They're blue in acid soil, not alkaline as it states.

                  Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

                  Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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                  • #10
                    Well spotted Alison!
                    Someone made a boo boo there didn't they?
                    "Nicos, Queen of Gooooogle" and... GYO's own Miss Marple

                    Location....Normandy France

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by Alison View Post
                      Don't know about all the article but it's incorrect re hydrangeas. They're blue in acid soil, not alkaline as it states.
                      I've always found that odd and confusing, since litmus paper turns red with acids and blue with alkalines. How do hydrangeas manage to do it the other way around, I wonder?
                      Location - Leicestershire - Chisit-land
                      Endless wonder.

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                      • #12
                        Originally posted by mothhawk View Post
                        I've always found that odd and confusing, since litmus paper turns red with acids and blue with alkalines. How do hydrangeas manage to do it the other way around, I wonder?
                        Ahhhh but mothhawk, is it the Litmus paper that's the wrong colour in acids or the Hydrangeas that are wrong????? Did the chemists get the colour wrong in the first place or was it a conspiracy to discredit the Hydrangeas!!!
                        The day that Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck ...

                        ... is the day they make vacuum cleaners

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                        • #13
                          Got to know your weeds, as you say a very interesting read☺

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                          • #14
                            Weeds indicative of acid soil

                            Hello. Some of the herbs that indicate acid soil are chickweed, plantain, nettle, equisetum.

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