What Common Weeds Should Provide to the Organic Gardener

If you are proud of being a weed-free garden, you may want to reconsider your position on weeds as undesirable pests. While it is important to control the spread of weeds, understanding the role of weeds and the benefits that some common weeds provide will make your life as a natural gardener more enjoyable.

Most gardeners consider anything that grows where weeds are not needed. But outside of ornamental, edible, and self-seeding, the term "weed" usually refers to a particular type of native plant with the most important purpose. In fact, the plants we refer to as weeds (clover, dandelion, quince anise lace) are considered ecological precursors. Mark Schoenbeck of the Virginia Association for Biological Farming published an article on the extension entitled "Ecological Understanding of Weeds", which is worth reading. Shanbeck says that once the soil decomposes for reasons such as fire, logging, or establishing a garden, all the nutrients, and life it holds become vulnerable. The role of a weed is, in simple terms, to cover the disturbed soil, fill it with organic matter and stabilize the life of the soil.

Growing a garden every year and disturbing the soil "inevitably gets a 'weed reaction' from nature," says Shanbeck. The weeds do their job. They are quickly installed and quickly regenerated in an effort to revitalize an area. Amy, from the Tenth Acre Farm, considers weeds to be healers: she writes that many weeds are nutrient accumulators, pulling nutrients through the soil and into their leaves. If left, the weeds will eventually shed the leaves and fill the soil. Other jobs that weeds do include protecting the soil from erosion, attracting beneficial insects, and leveling the soil with rotting root systems.

Are you still creating the soft side for weeds? Although weeds give some great benefits, you do not want them to be too much for your edibles. Here are some things to try.

1. Consider an uncultivated garden. The presence of weeds tells you about the condition of your garden, i.e. the soil has recently been disturbed. Weed seeds can be buried in the ground for decades, waiting for them to be brought to the surface, where they will germinate. A garden that does not reduce soil disturbances that are favorable for weeds.

2. Mulch. The plain soil is subject to a lot of disturbance by wind, rain and four-legged animals. Mulch helps protect the soil - much like the low-growing weeds (think clover) - and, at the same time, prevents many weed seeds from germinating.

3. Do not pull weeds. It looks negative, but pulling weeds disturbs the soil. However, sometimes, a weed has to be pulled, so do what you have to do. Amy, who owns a tenth-acre farm, recommends weeding once a month and reducing the number of seeds that produce flowering periods. By doing this, you can avoid disturbing the soil. Leave the cut litter in the garden to rot, which will provide nutrients to the soil. Before doing this, make sure that the litter is not infested with any kind of disease or insect pests.

There are ways to grow weeds with your edibles. Some weeds are edible! Here are some common ones you may want to allow to grow in your garden.

1. Dandelion

Dandelions sow like crazy, which is their only drawback. Dandelion leaves are delicious in salads. Bees and other pollinators love flowers. Amy, on the tenth-acre farm, emphasizes how important it is for dabroot to pull nutrients up through the soil, to level the soil, and to move the soil organisms and moisture more freely.

2. White Clover

White clover creates an ideal landscape, especially if used as a cover crop in a barren land. It adjusts nitrogen and helps to regenerate after soil erosion. It is very aggressive and requires constant maintenance to prevent it from taking over. But the effort pays off.

3. Queen Anne's lace

Left to grow near a fence or a shed, Queen Anne's lace would be very noticeable. According to the Permaculture Research Institute, flowers attract beneficial insects, including ladybugs, hoverflies, and parasitic mini-wasps.