Why do we let clover & dandelions grow in the yard?
We don't spray for weeds in our yard for several reasons. First of all many times weeds are called weeds because they grow where we don't want them. But are they really "weeds"? There are many benefits to certain types of plants that are often referred to as weeds. Clover & dandelions tell us a lot about the soil in our yard & pasture.
This spring we fenced off our house (we didn't want cattle on the porch!) and let the cattle in the yard to graze the clover & dandelions. This was a win win situation for us! The cattle got the nutritional benefits and we got a little mowing done.
Benefits of Dandelions:
They're beneficial for bugs. They are a flower that provides a good source of food for pollinators before the flowers are in full bloom for summer.
Dandelions are actually an excellent source of nitrogen which many places in our area the soil is nitrogen deficient.
Dandelions help improve the soil. They have long taproots which make them great soil aerators which helps to loosen the compact soil. And we all know we need that in this part of the country where shale & clay are prevalent.
They are actually edible! Dandelions are considered by some to be an herb, and people use the roots to brew tea. But the whole plant is actually edible and provides vitamins like A, C, & K.
Benefits of Clover:
Clover actually consumes less water than the traditional lawn grass & it doesn't need to be mowed as often.
This brilliant little plant takes nitrogen from the air and transfers it into the ground. Here it improves nearby plants and soil quality. Thus, clover is a huge benefit to yards with poor soil. Another good reason in our region to keep it in our yards to help with shale & clay type soils.
Clover, like Dandelions, attracts all kinds of beneficial pollinators.
Clover is an excellent tool to take advantage of in your yard. It has a dense root system & is fast growing. It will form dense clumps and spread their roots out which in turn will out-compete broad leaf plants you may not want in your yard.
So next time you're thinking about spraying your yard, think about other alternatives that can help improve your soil, keep unwanted plants out, and help support a healthy environment by attracting pollinators.
