Why does everyone hate Dandelions?

I had a neighbour from abroad some years ago, he asked me what to do about the “ dandeeleons “ since them I hated them less and always refer to them as dandeeleons!

Nope not at the moment ..
One dandelion become hundreds once the flower head seeds.
I live next a large green space "field" which is cut by the local council every few months.
No mow May has led to hundreds and hundreds of them,they all went to seed, and are now the seeds are trying to sprout in my pots, beds, sides of the drive even in my palm trees trunks in fact any space that's can support a tiny seed. Dandelions everywhere
So.. No not this year, I don't.

I think there is a quote somewhere that says, " There's no such thing as weeds, only Wild Flowers".!
I love all the wild flowers, we have a patch here in our garden at home, also encourage them at our little home-from-home in NW Norfolk.

NanaDana

Our back garden is a riot of self-seeding poppies (yellow and orange), buttercups, dandelions, ox-eye daisies, and we have some fritillaries in a damp corner. Also a couple of flowering cherries which provide some shade. Keeps the bees happy. Me too as we let it grow wild. Our little nature reserve.

That sounds lovely. The patch in which I allow buttercups is currently full of oxeye daisies as well - I bought five little plug plants a few years ago, they were so tiny I thought they wouldn’t survive but they have seeded so well. I’m ridiculously proud of them. We also have red corn poppies each year, appropriate as this area of Norfolk is often called Poppyland. And lots of self-seeded orange ones from a few I planted years ago. I would love some fritillaries but our soil is too free-draining I think. I get at least as much pleasure from self-seeded plants as from those deliberately planned. Unfortunately though I have very few foxgloves this year despite planting many out last autumn - only those that have seeded in very dry places. I think it’s because of all the rain during early spring. Such a shame.

They make a very good homemade wine 😂

If dandelions were difficult to grow, everyone would want them in their gardens.

Baggs

We are surrounded by fields and forest and deer, both roe and red, eat any cultivated plants. That's what initially made me switch to the enjoyment of the wild ones, though I've always had an interest in botany and wildflowers.

I grow lots of flowers for cutting, so I do try to keep parts of the garden as weed free as I can, although it’s a constant battle - I’ve got fencing all round because of the dog though, which prevents too much wildlife getting in, rabbits and hedgehogs succeed, but so far no deer.
My daughter did a wildflower project at school many years ago, that’s when I found out about the different types of dandelions, as she tried to collect a leaf and flower from each type.

If it’s yellow, the tortoise likes it so we leave them yellow weeds on the lawn and he eats them. I dig them out of the edge of the drive though. Weeds make it look unkempt.

We are surrounded by fields and forest and deer, both roe and red, eat any cultivated plants. That's what initially made me switch to the enjoyment of the wild ones, though I've always had an interest in botany and wildflowers.

Casdon

Baggs

I don’t like dandelions in the lawn, because the leaves spread horizontally and kill the grass

Really? I've never found this. Maybe we have robuster grass.

Actually we have about 12 species of grass.

It could be, but I think it’s more likely that it’s different types of dandelions, as there are over 250 different ones. I’d say we have at least 20 different types here, I’m surrounded by fields and moors, and keeping weeds at bay is a constant battle. I’ve also got lots of different types of buttercups.

I've stopped thinking of wildflowers as 'weeds' (although that word's original meaning is simply 'herb'). The result has been over 220 wild plant species (probably more since I last ID'd them all a few years ago). I'm still finding new ones occasionally such as what I think is Broad-leaved Helleborine, not yet flowering.

Must do a study of the dandelions here and see if we have a few of the 250.

Our back garden is a riot of self-seeding poppies (yellow and orange), buttercups, dandelions, ox-eye daisies, and we have some fritillaries in a damp corner. Also a couple of flowering cherries which provide some shade. Keeps the bees happy. Me too as we let it grow wild. Our little nature reserve.

Baggs

*I don’t like dandelions in the lawn, because the leaves spread horizontally and kill the grass*

Really? I've never found this. Maybe we have robuster grass.

Actually we have about 12 species of grass.

It could be, but I think it’s more likely that it’s different types of dandelions, as there are over 250 different ones. I’d say we have at least 20 different types here, I’m surrounded by fields and moors, and keeping weeds at bay is a constant battle. I’ve also got lots of different types of buttercups.

I am very fond of dandelions. Those aren't dandelions in your photo btw.
I have quite a meadow with orange and yellow hawkbit, common orchid, buttercup and yellow rattle.

Some of the grasses are really beautiful when in flower. But they have to be allowed to get to the flowering stage. Most lawns don't manage that.

Insects like grass flowers.

I don’t like dandelions in the lawn, because the leaves spread horizontally and kill the grass

Really? I've never found this. Maybe we have robuster grass.

Actually we have about 12 species of grass.

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

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.

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.

Bees need dandelions

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

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.

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.

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?

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.

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