| They also grow in compacted soil that is not well-draining. Dandelions are not fussy and will grow just about anywhere, so they are not very useful as "indicator" weeds. They are opportunists that just need a little bare dirt. They create more bare dirt by spreading their large shady leaves close to the soil, to shade out any competition. There are many other weeds that are better indicators of soil and growing conditions. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Using Weeds as Indicators of Environmental Conditions
