The Sustainable Lawn

A] Understanding The Ecological Perspective

High Population Of Dandelions-Feast Or Weeds?

The Dandelion originates from Europe. Its natural enemies are not here in the same abundance to keep the invasive species in check. In a Robust Healthy Plant there are 120 Seeds per Flower Head plus there are 30-40 Stems with Flower Buds per Plant. By the shear numbers a new area can be infected very quickly & re-infected on a larger & larger scale a number of times.

A Dandelion Plant With 30 To 40 Blooms & Buds

A Dandelion Seed Head Has 120 Seeds.

B] Keeping Aggressive Imported

Plant Species Like Dandelion In Balance

All flowers/buds prominent in mid to the end of June in the Island Of Newfoundland can be picked off into an empty clear plastic bread bag & there by preventing the seed heads from developing.

1. The first two steps can go along ways to minimize the same prolific spread of dandelion seeds.
2. The plastic bread bag can be closed at the top & placed in the sun to cook & render the seeds, buds & flowers inactive.The contents can placed in the bottom centre of the compost pile at the end of the growing season or sooner if they have rotted.
   

   The Dandelion Plant Has A Large Carrot Type Tap Root Allowing It To Store Food Plus Giving It Staying Capacity & Great Resilience.

3. The carrot like dandelion root can be dug out with a long handle trowel, screw driver, tire iron, narrow or pointed hoe just after a rain when the soil is soft & the root comes out more easily.
4. Foot operated diggers specifically for the dandelion can be purchased at a hardware store.
5. Most of the root has to come out or the tenacious plant will re-grow & come back again especially if a rain occurs on the exposed root lying on the soil.
6.  The Dandelion Population Reduction Program In The Lawn & Garden can be used as an Out Door Health, Exercise & Stretching Program To Improve Cardio-Vascular Activity, Lower Blood Sugar & Cholesterol plus Improve General Health & Well Being with a little bit of Dandelion Management Reduction Activity each day.
   

   Cabbage With Lamb’s Quarters, An Edible Healthy Nutritious Spinach Like Crop.

C] Beneficial Uses For Dandelions

The Dandelion Plant has many uses including the following. The young leaves in the early spring can be used as salad greens.The flavour is similar to endive.The Plant has a hardy tap root like a carrot. The root harvested in early spring or late fall can be used in an infusion/tea fresh or dried.The flowers can be used in making a wine & a syrup similar in consistency to honey. The flower stems are particularly versatile in that they can be chewed after the flower has been removed especially useful for diabetics for increased energy & used in salads. The Dandelion is beneficial for the liver & gallbladder function & helps get rid of gall stones painlessly. As a blood purifier it brings relief in gout & rheumatism; glandular swellings subside with continued use in 3-4 weeks. In the treatment of itchy, scaly rashes & eczema plus jaundice, they are of value.  The Dandelion Plant is used as a Herbal & Medicinal Plant with a long history in Europe.

Rutabaga [Fall Turnip] & Lamb’s Quarters, Both Excellent For Early Season Greens In Salads & Cooked As Spinach

In Newfoundland & Labrador there is a tradition of seeding & harvesting young leaves of Rape/Turnip/Rutabaga Tops in the spring & early summer for Greens with a distinctive flavour for use like Spinach cooked or fresh in salads.

A low growing plant from Eurasia called Sour Sallies/Sheep Sorrel commonly found & does well in acid soils has a unique flavour with a hint of Rhubarb.

Another plant from Europe commonly found in cultivated soils, that can be used like Spinach, is Lamb’s Quarters. It has a higher iron content than spinach.

Red Beets-Both Foliage & Root Can Be Eaten. Red Beet Leaves Are Excellent Spinach Greens With More Fibre.

E] Growing Alternatives

1. Many people are looking for ways & means to drastically reduce large acreages & lawns of grass that are cut each week & maintained to look like a golf green but not being regularly utilized. The Objective is to Eliminate Poisonous Cosmetic Use Pesticides; Drastically Reduce Noise Pollution & Toxic Carbon Exhaust Emissions. If the area is not needed for Family Use, Sports & Recreation, more efficient & appropriate use of the land & soil can be realized. Dandelions can be more easily managed.
2. Vegetable, Herb, Perennial Fruit Tree & Shrub Plant Alternatives are being considered. Besides gaining Fresh Food from the garden, the nutrition & quality is improved plus less poisonous pesticides are involved.
3. Greater use of Mulch Material is needed in the Paths of the garden, around the base of trees & shrubs where the feeder roots are concentrated.The fibrous Mulch Material keeps weed competition down, Increases moisture conditions & the up take of plant food plus enhances nutrition & plant health.
   

   Potatoes In Bloom-Blue Skin cv Blue Mac. Enough Bloom For A Flower Bed & Easy To Grow Food.

4. Mulch Material includes Fibrous Biological Organic Material like bark & wood chips, corn cobs & husks, cut up branches, limbs & twigs, leaves & grasses, shells of sun flower, peanut & tree nuts.
5. Many people are concerned where their food is coming from & are welcoming the opportunity to grow & acquire more of their own food locally that is organically grown in their own garden, from the Community Garden & Local Farm/Fish Market.
6. Refer To The Key Section: Under The Category, The Sustainable Lawn, “The Objectives And Benefits To Positively Affect Climate Change And Health”