The much maligned dandelion

Dandelions are viewed by most gardeners as a nuisance, destroying lawns and something that needs to be eradicated by careful extraction or systemic weedkillers.These much maligned flowers are a reletive of the sunflower and with control can be a welcome edition to your garden.To control the spread, once established, remove of the flowers once faded (dead head), this will prevent the production of seed and promote the production of more blooms.As any viewer of the Chelsea flower show coverage would have seen both dandelion and nettles were introduced onto gold medal winner Jekka McVicars herb display.Nettles support around 40 insect varieties as well as their cullinary uses whereas dandelions support no less than 93 different insect varieties including bees as they produce an abundance of nectar.Its not only the insects that can benefit from this plant as we to can eat the fresh young leaves in salads and use the root in such drinks as dandelion and burdock. Not only this but their medicinal qualitys are invaluable for use as a diuretic. The root can be gently boiled and the liquid left can be used as a liver cleanser and antibiotic to help with urinary tract infections. Please make sure you know what your picking before using any wild flowers or herbs I know this sounds silly but humans can be very silly.So why not give them a place in your border or veg bed, I am as this will be one of the more unusual plants in my Show garden for Sandringham this year.
Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

Comments

  • I am so glad you have written this and would like to add that they are also one of the early food sources for bees and butterflies, both of which as you probably know are on the decline. I am at present trying to create a mini wildflower meadow in my garden to support wildlife along with growing fruits and vegetables to support me! :) I am also encouraging more acceptance of wildflowers with my customers. Thank you again.
  • PRO
    Hi Shadow

    Have you aver seen the Dandelion explosion in France during late April/early May? All of the plum orchards and the meadows are a real picture and because the grass has not been treated for ages, every year seems to get more colourful.

    Even the buttercups are such a fantastic sight.
  • PRO


  • Cat and I were happily wandering through the plant centre at Harlow Carr a couple of months ago. We came home with three 'Itailian Herb' dandelion pots (that special irony was reserved just for me...). Now growing them happily in a Yorkshire flowerpot (also bought at Harlow Carr) next to the Mizuna and Rocket. Although I must admit that I volunteered to split them myself - what was I thinkig? I'm waiting for Cat to get sick of the leaves in salads, but I think I've got a way to go yet, as she feeds the extra leaves to our three house-rabbits as treats. I'm never going to win against that sort of genius am I...?
  • Gorgeous pictures Phil, here's some more from wikipedia (trust the speedwell doesn't upset the lawnsters)

    by Wadester16.

    by Wonglijie.

    by ArtMechanic.

    Magnificent aren't they.
  • These are beautiful pictures phil and pete and they highlight my point perfectly. Thank you glynis your garden sounds lovely.
    Shadow
  • Andrew
    Rabbits and giunea pigs, I can say from experience, are particularly fond of these so you may be stuck growing these for some time.
    Shadow
  • the dandelion has made many visits to chelsea. we had it in a garden in 1996 and again in 2004,5,6,7,8,9. Dandelion Taraxacum agg. consists of at least 229 microspecies in GB alone. All are apomictic and at least 40 are endemic. With a bit of effort it is possible to key them out into 9 sections. though the main flush of flowers is in the spring, some will flower at later times. and the habitat they grow in can help identify the particular group.
    We first included stinging nettles into a garden at chelsea in 2000. They have an even more interesting biology, being a hybrid which has followed civilisation into the world. They cerainly show that renowned "hybrid vigour"!
This reply was deleted.

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Peter sellers replied to David Benson's discussion liquid moss killer
"Pro kleen liquid iron sulphate direct from Pro kleen around £21 for 2x5lts delivered. We put 2.5lts in a 12lt knapsack, thoroughly wet area, avoid hot windy days.
Have used it for years highly recommend."
23 hours ago
Martin Ashdown posted a discussion
We chat over knowing your numbers, eating frogs and RASI forms. Please like and share to help us grow this channel.https://open.spotify.com/episode/0PwhpTOoJrhqiyRRK32qM7?si=252f7534...
23 hours ago
Dave Colton replied to David Benson's discussion liquid moss killer
"I haven't use liquid iron but do use soluble iron sulphate, takes a wee bit more mixing as it's a powder but I find it goes further and is cheaper than the liquid, I get mine from agrigem."
yesterday
David Benson posted a discussion
i have to treat some small areas of lawn with a lot of paving round them and one area there is a swiming pool. my usual way is lawn sand and a broardcast spredder but this is not ideal for this job, what liquid killer do you recomend for a knapsack…
yesterday
James Brett liked Martin Ashdown's discussion Two Ordinary Blokes in Business Podcast
Sunday
James Brett updated their profile
Sunday
Bryn Edmondson updated their profile
Sunday
Sam Bainbridge replied to Dougie's discussion Looking for a new roller machine
"Horrible in the wet just shows we are all different. I wouldn't even consider hayter for the terrible collection reason"
Sunday
Groundleader replied to Peter sellers's discussion Retirement advice
"This is definitely NOT my field of expertise, but I'd guess what most buyers might be interested in, could include:
1)  What's the realistic market value of your "hard" assets (vehicles, machinery, tools, materials etc).
2)  For the "goodwill" part…"
Saturday
Greenlawns replied to Dougie's discussion Looking for a new roller machine
"I've used Hayter harrier 56 pro mowers for 30 years . They're the best for maintenance,  admittedly not great in the wet , but I wouldn't change . "
Saturday
Sam Bainbridge replied to Dougie's discussion Looking for a new roller machine
"Interesting with the weibang I've had 1 for 5yrs bought new and it's been fine nothing to report as of yet which compared to the honda new needing a new back end after 18 months."
Saturday
Sam Bainbridge replied to Dougie's discussion Looking for a new roller machine
"Buy an old Honda roller mower, the new ones break in 18 months and cost you £500 that is then repeated every 12 months.
Either a honda or others the same which actually came out of the same factory with different names, sharp, lawnflite, kaaz, all…"
Saturday
Max alam posted a discussion
Im looking for my first 100 founding members to join and use canopy and i have approx 65 spaces left.. if your in the UK running a garden maintenance / landscaping company and could be intrested , feel free to enter the waiting list.Thecanopyapp.com
Thursday
Tim Bucknall replied to Daniel Gillings @ DC inc's discussion Rumble strips in lawn!
"Can you change the direction of mowing? Always using a roller mower in the same pattern can cause this.
 "
Thursday
Max alam posted a discussion
does anyone find themselves spending money on an invoicing and qouting app? do some of you use tradify to manage bookings and schedule?whats the best way to manage workflow when you get busy in the season ?
Apr 27
Paul Errington replied to Daniel Gillings @ DC inc's discussion Rumble strips in lawn!
"Try using a Turf Teq Power Rake to smooth it out. It will mill off the high spots and work the spoil into the low bits."
Apr 27
More…

how good does this look?

Im looking for my first 100 founding members to join and use canopy and i have approx 65 spaces left.. if your in the UK running a garden maintenance / landscaping company and could be intrested , feel free to enter the waiting list.Thecanopyapp.com

Read more…
0 Replies
Views: 39

Invoicing / Quoting

does anyone find themselves spending money on an invoicing and qouting app? do some of you use tradify to manage bookings and schedule?whats the best way to manage workflow when you get busy in the season ?

Read more…
0 Replies
Views: 49