Why killing weeds isn't the answer

Every time we pull a weed, we are setting the ecosystem back, the reason for that is nature is always trying to repair and cover bare soil.

Annual weeds are the pioneers of succession, they grow fast and furious in bare soil with little to no moisture or nutrients, they do this to try and create some soil organic matter to feed the next crop of weeds in order to try and create an environment conducive to the next stage of plant succession (perennials).

Bare soil has no way to protect itself from erosion, it has nothing in it to feed its microbes, it eventually becomes an inert substance incapable of sustaining life or holding moisture, it is known as dirt by Dr Elaine Ingham.

Nature is consistently trying to repair itself. You don’t see many weeds growing in an old growth forest, it has reached balance and nutrient cycling is at an optimum level. It has lots of fungal microbes that are natures recyclers, they produce enzymes that are capable of breaking down carbon chains and creating plant available nutrition from fallen trees. This produces very fertile soil, this is because the soil contains years, even centuries of soil organic matter that has been built up over such a long time, by a hugely diverse ecosystem.

If you want to get the most fertile soil on your land, then I can help.

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