Dandelions are very fond of growing in lawns. They like to be taken care of, and they seem to like to have their heads cut off.
A well-grown dandelion leaf.
Anyway the lawn mower does not trouble them in the least.
Their leaves grow close to the ground, in the shape of a rosette, and when the lawn mower passes over, only the large outer leaves are harmed; the young ones towards the center of the rosette remain unhurt and have more light and air and space to grow in; so our dandelion flourishes in spite of its pruning.
When a dandelion once gets its roots started it does not make so very much difference if it has its flowers cut off, for it does not die when winter comes. Only its leaves die. Its root continues alive in the earth, and in the spring wakes up and puts out new leaves.
So cutting off the flowers does not destroy the dandelion, it merely prevents seeds from forming, and more dandelions from starting.
Dandelion roots kill the grass by pushing it aside and taking the earth-food for themselves.
