Lawn and Dandelions

“When I was a kid in the 50's there were bees everywhere during summer in Seattle. I think that people should be encouraged to plant areas of clover and dandelions in their yards. Maybe a "perfect" yard without natural elements should be shunned as not being GREEN. Instead of perfect "golf course" landscaping, we should value weeds: What is the definition of a weed? A flower that grows without being watered!”--Tina, May 7, 2007

I decided to make a post out of Tina’s response to a post of mine from last year (thanks for reading back that far!) because it has so many elements in it.

I share Tina’s sentiment that our perfectly manicured lawns are not natural or ecosystem friendly. Lawns seem to be a hold over from British rule: vast areas of England, Scotland, and Ireland are rolling grassy hills that gave rise to traditions like golf, bowling, and grassy parks. They are difficult to maintain – just ask any home owner how much watering, mowing, weed killing, and fertilizing has to be done to keep a green one. Ask any real estate agent if a home will sell without a decent lawn.

However, dandelions, though useful to some species, are invasive – this species comes from Europe and Asia. It doesn’t belong in North America, but good luck stopping the spread now. Dandelions do help species of bees, but only because we Americans have destroyed all the natural vegetation that native bees used to thrive on.

Wildflowers and grasses native to the Minnesota region are what you want to plant to help bring back a sustainable ecosystem.

See Landscaping with native plants from the Minnesota DNR.

The problem with doing this seems to be a mental one, as Tina pointed out. Our neighbors will look at our yards and say "weeds!" Several suburbs of the Twin Cities actually have laws which require a certain percentage of the front yard be lawn (Minneapolis, fortunately repealed those laws.)