Weeds are NOT 'The Problem'

Glen explains why weeds are not the real problem but rather indicators of underlying soil health issues. By understanding and addressing deficiencies in calcium, phosphorus, carbon, oxygen, and hydrogen, you can create an environment that promotes healthy crop growth over weed proliferation. Glen also mentions specific weeds such as pigweed, yellow mustard, kochia, foxtail, wild barley, and ticklegrass, and how they signal specific soil imbalances. Learn how to improve your soil health and grow stronger, healthier crops with the right approach.

[not.likely]

Incredible video. We don't understand the basics well enough. It makes so much sense.

[debbietucker]

I am a brand new farmer, and just ran across your channel. You are an angel in disguise! Thank you, I am getting a wonderful start in this field (no pun intended), through your teaching. Thank you!

[WaterholeExchange]

How many litres of poison have we sprayed on ourselves in stupidity? I never believed the 'weed' problem because poison is no solution, that is lazy and ignorant (ignorance is the root of evil). Thank you for sharing, much appreciated.

[LtColDaddy]

My long journey towards weed and pest management are both centered on Brix testing. Bad bugs, aka the ones who feed on plant material, hate high sugar content. I survived 2 separate army worm attacks without using any input with minor damage around the corners of the field, while neighboring ground had been pounding expensive inputs, fighting for their lives, and the results were not good.

Weed management with grazing also does wonders. I know I’m going in really late so I can graze cover crops, and shortening RM’s, but identifying those problem areas and putting 500-750, even a million pounds per acre on those areas stomps it down, and the beneficial cover crops will over take it. The manure also pits that p and k, as well as N out there, and the trampled carbon mixes in.

But, despite how well we think we have it down, there is still plenty of punting when you’re not doing prescriptive, industrial farming. I’ve never had a year where I didn’t end up throwing in a buckwheat crop somewhere just to produce something. That can work just the opposite. In years past, I’ve never done well with winter cereals when I had a moist spring, but this year it never quit raining, and I broke every record. I have a commercial soft red that did a solid 200 bushels, and it was grown and certified organic. I have a lot of money in that crop, it’s interplanted with a yellow pea every 4th row and it’s on 5 inch spacing, it’s expensive seed and ultra high population. The stars just aligned, purely by luck.

[christopherhorn]

Whether something is a weed or a food crop seems pretty subjective. Some people grow amaranth for food, but it's a weed in my garden. Some people think lamb's quarters is a weed, but we grow it for food.

[koocanusasam]

Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

[osamawilliams]

WOW!!! I just Subscribed after HEARING this Entire Video!!! I am growing Multiple Foods Crops and THIS Was SO HELPFUL. I will be Following. Godspeed Everyone.

[GardenFreshHomestead]

I have noticed when I put blood & bone and garden lime in my raised beds like potatoes etc, I don't get any weeds.
When I don't have any lime in with my onions, I have a lot of weeds.

[lintonhendrickssourcelink]

Brilliant. Thank you so much. My wife and I are starting our farm food growing journey. Cape Town, South Africa. The soil is key. Thank you
Linton and Rene

[ScenterSquare]

Thank you! This is the best summation of soil requirements I have found on YouTube.

[belugaflying]

12:53 high ph is a deficiency of hydrogen which is a deficiency of carbon

[mystic]

Thank you, I am a gardener now and just love your information. A few years ago I took my antique tractor and plow to a “plow day”. I did not even unload. The soil was so hard that most of the plows would not go in the ground.😢

[RockerBug]

My roommate never stops talking about weeds.

[raylidell]

Sir, I have had a refractometer sitting unused in its box for years! What a great education and certainly one I needed to put this thing to work!! Thank you for this very clear lesson.

[jaymzgaetz]

Never heard of using a refractometer in this way. It's used to measure gravity, or body, or solids so using it this way may detect sugar percentages but if you're testing water for your salt water fish tank those solids would be salt. I'm only growing in my back yard. I like the idea of cutting the weeds instead of pulling them. Root penetration is beneficial for soil building as well so by leaving the root it tact it continues to wiggle down while the cut pieces are used as mulch and worm food. My soil is compacted and full of clay but it's improving. It also helps to drive a pick into the top layer of stubbornly compacted areas as well. Not picking and shoveling just making cracks so water can get in and growth can come out.I don't want to use chemicals or amend the soil if I don't have to because I eat what I grow and amending the soil requires a targeted yet balanced approach which can take some breaking up of the soil. Necessary for a farmer dealing with acres but maybe not for my tiny plot. I look forward to experimenting with my refractometer in this way.

[SimpleNaturalPractical]

I really appreciate the thoughts and reasoning and chemistry.

But need explanations please on how one would increase those elements, oxygen(tilling or forking presumably)
Hydrogen?
Carbon? (Compost or induction)

Calcium and P are easy to apply according to a test

[sergioresendez]

Saludos desde Mexico! Fue una leccion magistral de malezas y fertilidad de suelos! Of course. thanks God I understand English Language. Thank you!

[Kristoffceyssens]

I'm learning knf, and this made my brain click a few times. Thanks

[brentcunningham]

What are some best practices for maintaining the calcium in the top few inches of soil?

[paladugujayapala]

In our Agricultural lands of Paddy, Echinochloa sps. are growing, sometimes creating the problem to the main crop Paddy. I have seen your Video, it is very impressive. Now you have decided to engineer the soil. Probably Echinochloa sps. abundant growth indicates high salts such as Sodium, Magnesium etc. in the soil. Kindly suggest measures to engineer the soil.