Plantwatch: Why dandelions should be left to grow in spring
Dandelions are often seen by gardeners as burly thugs, but they do have their benefits. The flowers are rich in nectar and pollen, feeding pollinating insects, which have suffered steep declines in recent years. Numbers of flying insects in the UK have fallen by 78% since 2004, according to a survey based on sampling vehicle number plates. As dandelions bloom early in spring, before many other flowers, they are a particularly valuable food for hungry pollinators, with dandelion nectar especially vital when early pollinators such as wild bees, honeybees and hoverflies emerge.
Dandelion plants are particularly adept at thriving in urban places and can even grow in cracks in pavements, using a long, large taproot to tap into water and nutrients well below the ground surface. Urban dandelions grow bigger and better than those in the countryside, thriving in the warmer urban climate . Some species of dandelions can even tolerate the high levels of salt sprayed on roads in winter to help melt ice, and withstand roadside pollution from traffic.
This month gardeners are encouraged with 'No Mow May' by the charity Plantlife to avoid mowing lawns and let weeds such as dandelions grow unmolested.
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