Rumex dock, Jimsonweed, Thistles, Bindweed: our solutions against these unwanted plants

Rumex, datura, thistles, bindweed… These so-called “undesirable” plants are often the symptoms of unbalanced soil. Before combating them, it’s essential to understand why they take root. Too much nitrogen, asphyxiated soil, an unbalanced pH… Each species tells us a lot about the state of the soil. In this article, we explain how to read these biological signals and, above all, what solutions to implement to restore a living, balanced soil that’s less welcoming to these invasive weeds.

These “unwanted” plants are generally the cause of soils or cultivation techniques which are favorable to their development.

There are 3 types of plants:

• Those which serve as an indicator of microbial life in the soil
• Those that indicate excess
• Those that indicate a deficiency

→ Datura / Rumex / Thistle / Bindweed … similar causes
( Encyclopedia of bio-indicator plants by G. Ducerf )

Indicator characters:

• Rumex: Asphyxiated soils, often with organic matter and excess water – Soils with a destructured CAH which can cause livestock poisoning with Al, Fe, nitrites
• Datura: Soil pollution (fertilizers, phytosanitary products, slurry), soil salinization (excess irrigation) – Compacted soils not functioning properly with low microbial activity.
• Thistle: Asphyxiated soils, saturation of the CAH by excess organic matter or nitrogen – On soils with high pH: blocking of phosphorus
  The thistle rises to restructure compacted soil and draw from deep down the leached calcium, nitrate and sulfur
• Bindweed: Compacted soils, saturation of the CAH by excess nitrogen (excess organic matter or ammonium nitrate) – Nitratophilous plant

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