free range - dandilion take over

[Forest_Nymph]

Think positive!

A dandelion plant sends down long tap roots...when it dies back it creates a deep hole for worms to thrive in. Between the both of them, the soil gets rejuvinated with rich minerals that create a better topsoil for all plantlife. Even if you pulled them out, a tiny piece of taproot will regenerate into another....

Thats my theory and I'm sticking to it!!!!! LOL

I hated eating them when I was a kid too. They're everywhere in my yard now and the ducks and chickens take a nibble each time they stroll by. There is no getting rid of them as far as I know of. Even if I poisoned all in my yard now, they'd be reseeded in no time by the lawn next door.
Good luck from Maine!

 

[Gracefulspice]

As my quote says

A weed is just a flower that grew in the wrong place. Leave them, I do. I think it makes the yard look nice and they don't last long.

 

[Southern28Chick]

I like dandelions, I think the picture looks very pretty.

 

[mom'sfolly]

Blame our Pilgrim forebears for the dandelions. They were considered an essential plant during colonial times. I don't eat them, but I do pull them. I would just let your chicken go for them. I bet they will like the seeds. When I was a kid, I'd occasionally see pine siskens land on the seed heads and eat them. Maybe a few years of chickens eating the seeds will take care of the dandelion situation

Karen

 

[seedcorn]

2-4D will kill them as will crossbow. Stay after them and they'll be gone. Left alone, they will kill everything.

 

[4H kids and mom]

countrygirl4513 ... Yup it really works. You have to be careful though to et it only on what you want to kill because it will kill grass and other plants too. What I do is drop a little down the stem so it runs down to the roots. Gets 'em good!

 

[SeaChick]

I hope no one takes offense, but PLEASE think carefully about using chemical pesticides and herbicides!!!!!!!

I got breast cancer at a young age. No family history, ate organic food, totally healthy lifestyle, not overweight, first baby before 30, etc. i.e. I was not in any sort of risk group for breast cancer. Totally out of the blue. Why? My doctors agreed (off the record) that it was probably from environmental exposure to all the toxic chemicals we're exposed to every day. Hormones in meat & milk. Dry-cleaning chemicals. Persticides and herbicides sprayed on neighboring lawns by well-meaning homeowners who just want to have pretty yards!!!

I really feel it is short-sighted to do that. If you do even a little bit of research you will find loads of info on how these chemicals are linked to breast cancer, non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, learning diabilities in kids, and on and on. The companies do a couple years of testing (nothing long term can be done since they are new chemicals!) and get them pronounced safe. But we all know that long term results surface... think of DDT, etc. Or even "smoking cigarettes is perfectly safe!" just 25 years ago.


My daughter is now in a high-risk group for getting breast cancer, since I got it so young, and I am scared for her. All of the young women I went through treatment with are no longer alive, having left behind little kids and widower husbands. It just seems to me that a little bit of common sense is in order here. What's more important, a weed-free lawn or human health (not to mention animal/environmental health)? Sound organic gardening practices are far far better for every living thing involved. For lawns, buy some corn gluten "weed&feed". The corn gluten is a pre-emergence weed killer. If you apply it in spring & fall it won't let weeds germinate. They have it at my local garden store, and easy to order on line at GardensAlive.com.

OK I'll get down off my soap box. Sorry. I'm just kinda passionate about this.

Stacey

PS. ROUNDUP: Now, RoundUp is not directly linked to breast cancer like some chemicals (pesticide chlordane, for one) , but it's sure not good! Independent scientific studies have shown that Roundup is toxic to earthworms, beneficial insects, birds and mammals. Plus it destroys the vegetation on which they depend for food and shelter. And although Monsanto claims that Roundup breaks down into harmless substances, it has been found to be extremely persistent, with residue absorbed by subsequent crops over a year after application. Roundup show adverse effects in all standard categories of toxicological testing, including medium-term toxicity, long-term toxicity, genetic damage, effects on reproduction, and carcinogenicity.

http://www.chem-tox.com/pesticides/#breastcancer

 

[AccidentalFarm]

All this, and I can't even find a dandelion to give my chicks!! I usually have them in abundance, but not this year. Can't really understand it.

 

[Oaknim]

AccidentalFarm - I'll mail you some.

We have about an acres worth of nothing but dandelions and other "weeds." DH complains that he doesn't have a "lawn" but I say, "It's green. Shut-up." ~ Oaknim

 

[spock78]

If you get enough of those things, you can always make wine out of them. I used to manage senior citizens apts. & them old folks(to me at the time) would scream if I came anywhere near thier dandilion gardens. I had one man chase me with a hoe, that he held in a very threatening position.