In recent years, many gardeners have looked differently upon 'weeds,' thanks to more awareness around the importance of these plants for pollinators and the biodiversity of our backyards. Dandelions are some of the most beneficial unexpected blooms to crop up in your yard, which is why experts want you to keep them around.
There's an ongoing debate about whether dandelions are weeds or flowers, and the answer is both. They have joyful, bright flowerheads that like to self-seed and quickly appear somewhere else, most notably on lawns.
While it can be tempting to get rid of dandelions, experts say you should leave dandelions in your yard for the benefit of your soil, pollinators, and even the growth of your grass. Not only this, but there are actually plenty of ways dandelions can be used outside the yard, too.
The benefits of leaving dandelions in your yard
Of course, the number one reason you should leave dandelions in your yard is that it's a valuable flowering weed for pollinators. In particular, many types of bees enjoy dandelions, but it's common to spot butterflies and other pollinators also hanging around them.
'Dandelion is a non-native perennial whose reputation is conflicted,' says gardening expert and broadcaster, Teri Knight. 'It's an early bloomer that is attractive to bees, who eat the nectar,' she adds.
Their nectar-rich nature is what makes dandelions so attractive to pollinators. They also have an abundance of pollen which bees, butterflies, and more pick up and spread when pollinating. In turn, this helps other plants thrive, including crops in your kitchen garden, and supports the biodiversity in your yard.
'Without those pollinators the availability and variety of fresh produce declines, along with fruits and nuts. Allowing some weeds to grow in our lawns helps pollinators help humans,' Teri notes.
Not only this, but choosing to leave dandelions in your yard (and not getting rid of weeds in general) can actually help you achieve a green, thick lawn. This is because their deep taproots help aerate lawn.
Of course, if you plan to keep just one patch of dandelions on your lawn, you may also choose to use an aerator tool (from Amazon) to support the growth of the rest of your grass.
Their deep roots also support soil health by bringing essential plant nutrients from deeper in the ground higher up, making them available to other plants – this is known as nutrient cycling.
When you do eventually remove dandelions, don't just discard them. Instead, use them to make plant fertilizer rich in potassium, calcium, iron, and more. You can either chop the leaves up to place directly on the soil at the base of your plants, or add leaves and roots to homemade compost.
Alternative uses for dandelions
It isn't just your yard that benefits from dandelions, however. They make the list of medicinal plants, edible spring flowers, and have a variety of unusual uses that make them worth growing.
'Dandelion tea is one of the most popular ways to embrace the benefits of dandelion,' says herbalist and holistic medicine practitioner, Jamie Bacharach. 'The leaves and roots of this humble plant may have the potential to aid in detoxification and assist in digestion thanks to its antioxidant properties,' she explains.
For this reason, you may consider using the dandelions in your yard to grow your own herbal tea.
'If you’re using the leaves, simply steep the leaves in boiling water for 10 minutes, and if you’re using the roots of the plant, roast the dandelion roots in an oven for 30 minutes before cutting them into small pieces and adding them to boiling water,' Jamie advises. 'You can add lemon and honey for flavor as dandelion tea has a distinct earthy taste which certain people may not enjoy,' she adds.
You can likewise use dandelions to make a tincture to help aid liver problems, Jamie notes:
'Simply add the roots of dandelions to a glass jar and pour it over with vodka, allowing it to soak for three or four weeks. Shake the mixture well everyday before then straining it in a glass jar with a dropper attached (from Amazon),' she explains.
FAQs
How do I restrict dandelions to one patch of my lawn?
To benefit from dandelions without allowing them to takeover your entire yard, you can designate an area for them to grow. This is part of creating a wildflower meadow, allowing flowering weeds to grow as they wish in a particular space. It involves pulling up dandelion weeds that grow outside of this area (which you can do with this weed puller tool from Amazon), and deadheading dandelions before they go to seed and spread. Some gardeners also use weed spot treatments to keep dandelions away, although you should be aware of the any chemicals used in the products you choose.
You can brighten up your dandelion display even further by creating a wildflower garden. Plant wildflower seeds in spring to see an explosion of color in summer, bringing many pollinators to your outdoor space. This wildflower pollinator mix from Amazon has a good selection.
