Dandelions get a bad rap, but they aren’t all bad. We spend a lot of time and money trying to keep them out of our yards, but they can actually be beneficial. Because their roots spread widely underground, they help loosen soil and aerate the ground, which helps other plants grow and thrive. They also help fertilize the grass they grow in, making our lawns healthier without any chemicals or effort.
Dandelions have also been used medicinally for centuries to treat everything from toothaches to warts to fevers. And, of course, kids have long had fun with dandelions. Who hasn't popped the heads off of dandelions or blown on the puffy dandelions that have gone to seed, releasing thousands of seeds into the air?