So, I kept seeing the same darn weeds popping up in one corner of my yard, year after year. You know the ones, sorrel mostly, and some others I can’t even name. Just really taking over that spot.
It got me thinking. Why there specifically? The rest of the lawn wasn’t nearly as bad with those particular types. I water everything the same, sunlight’s pretty even across the back.
Someone mentioned soil type once. Maybe the dirt itself was different? I remembered reading somewhere that some plants like soil more sour, or acidic, as they call it.
My Little Experiment
I decided I had to check this out myself. Went down to the garden center, felt a bit silly, but I bought one of those cheap soil test kits. The kind with the little capsules and color charts.
Getting the samples was easy enough. Dug up a bit of dirt from the weedy patch. Then I took another sample from a part of the lawn where the grass was actually winning.
- Mixed the soil with water like the instructions said.
- Dropped in the little powder capsule thingy.
- Shook it up real good.
- Waited for the water to change color.
Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much. Seemed too simple.
Well, What Do You Know…
But wouldn’t you know it? The results were actually pretty clear. The sample from my weedy corner turned a color that showed the soil was definitely on the acidic side. Maybe not crazy acidic, but lower pH than ideal for good lawn grass.
The sample from the healthier lawn area? Much closer to neutral. Right where the kit said grass likes it best.
So, yeah. It looked like those specific weeds, especially the sorrel, really didn’t mind the sour soil. Maybe they even preferred it. Gave them an edge over the grass I actually wanted.
What I Did Next (Or Didn’t)
Okay, knowing this was one thing. Fixing it? That’s the gardener’s eternal struggle, right?
I read up that adding lime can make soil less acidic. So, I got a bag of garden lime and spread it over that weedy area. Followed the instructions, didn’t want to overdo it.
Did it magically make the weeds vanish overnight? Nope. Of course not. Weeds are tough.
But over time, maybe the next season? I think it helped a bit. The sorrel wasn’t quite as aggressive in that spot. Still had weeds, mind you, just maybe… different weeds? Or fewer of the acid-loving ones. It’s hard work keeping track.
So, do weeds like acidic soil? Based on my little patch of dirt, I’d say some definitely do. They see it as an opportunity where other plants might struggle. It’s not all weeds, obviously. Some pop up anywhere, seems like. But yeah, checking your soil pH might tell you something about why certain unwelcome guests keep showing up to the party in your yard.
