Why does everyone hate Dandelions?

Forgot the picture

I too love dandelions and their bright colour, an underestimated plant with so many uses. I also love daisies and buttercups.
You know what they say, a weed is only a flower in the wrong place

I read about dandelions recently - apparently they are really good for the soil, bringing nitrogen up to higher levels and making it accessible to other plants. They root really deeply and improve the soil. Apparently they die out once the soil is improved.

The main reason I see them as a pest is they always seem to root right in the middle of other plants.

Rabbits like them🙃 ….just saying

My father liked a “perfect lawn” and I used to beg him to keep the daisies, but he never would. Tremble to think what his opinion of dandelions would have been.

Rabbits do - especially the stem and root which has a milky substance inside.
However, I hate yellow, so dandelions and buttercups just have to go. I don’t care if it’s a weed or not - if it’s yellow, it goes!

Are you sure they are dandelions? They don’t seem to be displaying much leaf. It may be something called flatweed which has a rosette of flat hairy leaves close to the ground. Nonetheless less pretty but not as beefy as a dandelion. My lawn is full of it but they don’t seem to come up in the beds.

This?

I don’t think those are dandelions. They look more like hawkbit or cats ear. I have some in my garden, also some proper dandelions which have a much shorter, thicker stem and generally a larger, flatter flower. I also have one area of the garden where I allow buttercups to multiply. I love wild flowers.

Greyduster

Are you sure they are dandelions? They don’t seem to be displaying much leaf. It may be something called flatweed which has a rosette of flat hairy leaves close to the ground. Nonetheless less pretty but not as beefy as a dandelion. My lawn is full of it but they don’t seem to come up in the beds.

Yes, I don't think they're dandelions either.

Catsear? My lawn is full of them and I've let part go wild but they have overtaken everything else.
I thought they were coltsfoot and was pleased to see them but don't think they are.

The bees love them.

X post GSM

Mine have just gone to seed, luckily our neighbour has a wild garden too.

I've given up on a lawn!

No they have the dandelion leaves at the bottom...

I thought the same thing and had to Google. I am used to seeing them shorter too but I would guess because I mowed far more often before

Georgesgran

Rabbits do - especially the stem and root which has a milky substance inside.
However, I hate yellow, so dandelions and buttercups just have to go. I don’t care if it’s a weed or not - if it’s yellow, it goes!

I love yellow. Gorse, broom, roses etc.

Hang on, I've just googled catsear and the leaves are the same!

Ok, I'm going to have to go argue with my daughter a bit more about it now lol

Do they, I love them, bright and sunny on a rainy day bees and insects love them. Dandelion wine, can also eat leaves in a salad I believe. Try not to cut my lawn too soon, but when I do, they pop up again, and of course they're in the garden, leave them too.

Ok they have furry leaves and are catsear! A close relative

youtu.be/_7SIHtWu2hw

So should I still be hating on common Dandelions?

And can I pick these without wetting the bed? Does anyone else remember that saying?

VioletSky

No they have the dandelion leaves at the bottom...

I thought the same thing and had to Google. I am used to seeing them shorter too but I would guess because I mowed far more often before

If they're under a tree they could be growing taller to try to reach the light.

And can I pick these without wetting the bed? Does anyone else remember that saying?

I think the leaves are diuretic

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOME!!

In French known also as pissenlit.

No you guys were right, I've just been out stroking leaves

Bees need dandelions

Dandelion season is pretty much over where I am. The garden is now filling up with Cat's-ear (Hypochoeris radicata), the flower of which is similar to that of dandelions.

Also orange 'Fox and Cubs' (Orange Hawkweed/Pilosella aurantiaca).

I call the Cat's-ear 'Radical Hippo Cherries' in an effort to remember the botanical name.

I don’t like dandelions in the lawn, because the leaves spread horizontally and kill the grass, I’ve got one of those special towel like tools to get them out with. I’ve got lots of other flowers the insects like though.

Loads of catsear on our front vaguely green patch and white daisies, the bee’s are happy.