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The Deep Middle


Gardening & writing in the prairie echo

The Great Dandelion Debate

4/30/2022

8 Comments

 
I admit I'm a bit frustrated this morning regarding the topic of dandelions. This happened because I have fought back against the many social media memes on the benefits to pollinators of dandelions. Whenever I do this I hear from folks who assume I am then pushing for the use of herbicides or other active removal.

I have never and will never advocate removing the European species from our garden beds, lawns, or city parks. First, it's a futile gesture. Genie + bottle. And since that gesture most often means employing indiscriminate herbicide, it's a non starter.

Second, while dandelions just don't hold a candle to native plant communities when it comes to wildlife support (adult and larval insects), I find GREAT value in other ecosystem services they provide. Here's a partial list:

1) Solid groundcover plant. We want layers in habitat gardens, and this takes up a layer most folks ignore. It blends in nicely when in a tightly knit community.

2) The nature of its habit / form means broad leaves help shade the soil, conserving moisture and preventing some other weed seeds from germinating.

3) The taproot helps open up compacted clay soil -- especially after construction.
Now, some studies have shown dandelion may be mildly allelopathic, reducing the ability of other plants to establish around it (its pollen may also be allelopathic). I'll take my chances.

And of course, we DO have at least one native dandelion species to consider.

The "problem" of dandelions is twofold: first, they look weedy because they most often occur in monoculture lawns or park spaces devoid of other concurrently-flowering species. This means they stand out like a sore thumb, an obvious affront to a highly-managed space that's held back from its full, ecological potential as a meadow. Dandelions are nature screaming to be set free.

Second, and on a more philosophical note, dandelions are evidence of our human supremacy and confront our guilt or shame over creating so many environmental problems. It's complicated -- we can embrace what we've done and move on calling our actions part of nature, or we can be aware of our mistakes and learn a complex lesson about how to do better in the future and / or address other species that are even bigger problems than the humble dandelion.

What's in a weed? A story of adaptation to be admired and loathed. A reflection of ourselves. A testament to our complex existence as stewards of life and our own hearts.

8 Comments
James McGee
5/1/2022 02:44:04 am

I remove dandelions from my yard using an NRG Pro weeder. I don’t use herbicide because the vapors harm the native Asteraceae, and some other species, in my garden. It takes me about two hours a year. If your lawn is healthy then it is difficult for dandelions to get a foothold. I have less dandelions than my neighbors who treat their yards with herbicide. Removing dandelions keeps my dandelion hating neighbors happy. I personally like dandelions. They don’t compete well with native vegetation and are not a problem in natural areas. Although, I can understand why people don’t like seeing an entire yard full of seed heads that will blow into their immaculately manicured lawns.

Reply
Deborah E Hieronim
6/4/2022 07:27:16 am

Ben, I love your insight on things. thx

Reply
Jill Schaumloeffel
6/4/2022 07:34:56 am

Our yard is one of the prettiest on our block. In spring we have wild violets with the beautiful yellow pop of dandelions. It is a beautiful tapestry against the spring green grass. We use no chemicals in our lawn and are establishing plants native to our area around the house and in our "back 40". Thanks for your sharing your knowledge.

Reply
Laural Gagnon
6/4/2022 09:27:23 am

I have a 1/2 acre area and last year I did selective mowing. This year the dandelions have stayed confined to their areas as native and other species filled in around them. The interesting and fun observation was nit just the variety of bees feeding on them but for the first time I had American Goldfinch and sparrows feeding on the seeds. It has been a delight!

Reply
Kathleen J Bradley
6/4/2022 09:56:43 am

We also have Dwarf dandelion (Krigia virginica growing in the Oak Openings Preserve Metropark in Toledo, Ohio. Krigia is a genus of North American flowering plants in the dandelion family. Plants of the genus are known generally as dwarf dandelions or dwarf dandelions. The species vary in morphology. They are annual or perennial herbs growing from a fibrous root system or a taproot. One species has rhizomes with tubers. Wikipedia
Genus: Krigia; Schreb.
Order: Asterales
Tribe: Cichorieae

Reply
Susan Landau
3/25/2023 11:38:40 am

In NJ, I adore the Krigia biflora, two-flowered Cynthia! The lovely folks at Wild Ridge grow it, haven't seen it elsewhere for sale. https://wildridgeplants.com/shop/krigia-biflora-two-flowered-cynthia/

Reply
MB Whitcomb link
6/17/2022 10:23:35 am

Or we can dig them out...as they are far from static...the short generation time, means they adapt quickly...I am digging them out from along the brook (moist), shaded forest edges (mesic), and, of course my ditches which are places I grow natives that are large and with colonizer characteristics. The deep roots, and wide spread of leaves monopolize the limited energy in the very thin nutrient layer of the soil meaning no germination, and no way to make room...among the other some 30 or so introduced from lawn/ornamental/or abandoned pasture plants. It is bad out there...if I want full ecosystem function for my 45 bird species and 130 lepidopteran (as well as ants, flies, amphibians, and tertiary predatory wildlife)...I have to weed...and weed...and weed. It is a sad thing to live in a very remote area where getting back to "evolved" already involves so much work. Where will we be in 100 years?

Reply
Laura M
3/25/2023 08:27:55 pm

If I spot them before they flower, I dig them up and make salad.

Reply



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    Benjamin Vogt's thoughts on prairie gardening in Nebraska. With a healthy dose of landscape ethics, ecophilosophy, climate change,  and social justice.

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