Why You Should Reconsider Killing All The Dandelions In Your Yard

When the frilly yellow blooms of the ubiquitous dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) start popping up in your lawn or garden bed, you may feel a rise of adrenaline (perhaps even rage). The urge to remove dandelions is ingrained in the psyche of many gardeners, and dandelions are seen as a scourge to lawn and garden for many good reasons. This non-native weed spreads quickly, crowd out native plants and other groundcovers with their broad-spreading leaves and multi-stemmed flowers, and are a pain to remove. But you may be missing out on some beneficial uses of this colorful little weed if you embark on an annihilation campaign.

Like other weeds you shouldn't pull from your garden, dandelions have hidden benefits, and are even edible. They are also an early source of food for pollinators in areas bereft of other flowers. And they actually can help out your lawn. While some weed control is a good idea for this aggressive perennial, you may want to reconsider killing all the dandelions you see.

If you prefer a flawless, green lawn, then you know the pain of fighting weeds. But having some dandelions can benefit your grass. The roots that make dandelions tough to pull are actually doing good work in the soil beneath your lawn, loosening and aerating it. Their long taproots also bring soil nutrients up to the surface, helping fertilize your grass. 

If you can tolerate some of these yellow beauties in your lawn but don't want them to get out of control, you can mow your grass before they go to seed. Because each dandelion plant can spread thousands of seeds, getting to them before the yellow flowers turn into white puffballs is the key. Mowing to control pesky weeds is a go-to strategy in the spring, and setting your mower high enough to lop the tops off dandelions, while leaving behind relatively tall grass, will help keep your lawn staying vigorous. A healthy lawn will naturally control the spread of dandelions.

One person's weed is another person's lunch, and dandelions are no exception. Like other edible flowers you may plant or find in your yard, the humble dandelion can be made into a ton of recipes, from using the roots to brew coffee and tea to adding the tender green leaves to salads and sandwiches. You'll find several tips and tricks online for using fresh dandelion greens in raw or cooked recipes. They have a peppery, earthy, flavor somewhat like arugula, though the leaves can be bitter, and get tougher as the plant matures. 

Nutritionally, dandelions provide vitamins including A, C, and K, and are chock full of fiber and calcium. The antioxidants in dandelions have been studied for cancer prevention and treatment and other health benefits like lowering blood sugar and cholesterol. If you do plan to harvest dandelions to eat, make sure they are free of pesticide and insecticide residues from your gardening practices, or when gathered in the wild. Considering the dandelion as a garden crop for your table may change your perspective on this useful little plant.