Dandelions
Pm question, from someone who didn’t want to be identified
Question: Is it harmful to have dandelions taking over my pasture? Should I spray and try to control them?
Response: Dandelions are not poisonous to horses. Therefore, from a horse health perspective, there is not an urgent need to control them.
However, from a pasture health perspective, dandelions tend to indicate a pasture that is over‐grazed, lacking fertility and in need of weed control. Dandelions, and other non‐poisons weeds, are not a desirable forage for horses because they yield less and are less nutrient dense compared to traditional pasture forages.
If your pasture is less than 25% weeds (including dandelions), then one option is to use a broadleaf herbicide to control the dandelions and other weeds. Mowing is an alternative to herbicide use, but that may not yield quick eradication. However, mowing will improve soil structure and feed your grass, preventing them occurring in the first place by soil improvement.
Dandelion is eaten readily by sheep but is relatively low yielding as forage. The plants have some nutritive value in pasture and are relatively high in calcium, nitrogen, copper and iron so great to mow back in! The fibrosity index is low compared with grass.
Dandelion leaves provide winter food for pigeons. The flowers a nectar source for insects and seeds are eaten by some birds.
Dandelion roots are used in medicine as a tonic and for their diuretic properties. Dandelion plants release ethylene, a chemical that can affect the growth of neighbouring plants, sometimes for the better, sometimes not, depending on the amount of plants you have. Ethylene plays a role in ripening but also in ageing of a plant.
Dandelions can bring calcium up from their long (sometimes three to five foot) tap roots and when mulched and mowed can help decompact land. A single healthy dandelion plant can last for up to 13 years and self seeds year on year.
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