How to Keep Gophers & Groundhogs From Eating Your Garden..

[@carolantrim]

Can I ask why the graft union of the tree needed to be facing north on the crab apple tree you planted? Thanks!

[@gigihenderson8567]

The idea of facing the graft union north, is to prevent sunburn at that spot. As you saw, there is often a pronounced curve where the budwood comes off the rootstock, which is susceptible to sunburn/ scalding, especially in our hot climates. Facing it north will help keep that part of the tree healthy as it starts to grow. Young trees have thin bark and bad sunburn can kill the whole tree.

[@NextLevelGardening]

Gigi is correct!

[@NextLevelGardening]

Yup. Thanks!

[@carolantrim]

@@gigihenderson8567 Thank you so very much!

[@deborhasmith6285]

Thank you

[@yesidovlogs]

Wishing everyone who sees this comment a very happy day

[@NextLevelGardening]

You too!

[@onemoredoll5791]

Thank you! You too

[@mags9536]

You too. Thank you 😊

[@Christian-jx3nx]

Thank you. You also! 😊

[@thequestlivetolearntolive.8555]

Thank you like wise

[@Nrscathy60]

Love the basket idea. I have a Gopher service that traps them. That's alot to go through when a few traps could help solve your problem. He comes regularly, so we keep things under control. As far as dandelions, they are full of vit c and are great for the chickens, down to the roots. The flowers make for more healthy orange egg yolks. So good for the chickens. My Grandma used to make dandelion wine on occasion.😂

[@sallypoppema9575]

It's so nice having you back on the regular again. You look rested and ready for the new season. Your cottage garden area is so beautiful!

[@lindasoaft9303]

Cottage garden really coming along nicely! Thanks for the demo on gopher cages. Getting ready to plant Cherry and Western Redbud trees!

[@sharonromero128]

I just realized watching the last few videos that watching your channel & learning more about gardening is very close to having my own personal gardener. Wow, Brian! Gardening success seems more possible for me. Thank you so much for all you share. Many blessings

[@NextLevelGardening]

That really means alot! Thank you.

[@melindaroth5796]

BEAUTIFUL TULIPS BRIAN. YOU WORK SO HARD. YOU ARE DETERMINED TO SUCCEED. SO HAPPY FOR YALL. 😊 LOVE YALL ❤

[@NextLevelGardening]

Thanks so much Melinda

[@christineelsey3104]

Hope U & Emily, Noah too.. all have a wonderful day too !! 😊 Glad to see that your property has survived all the unusual winter Rainy weather you have gone thru, relatively unscathed !! a Canadian fan.. 😊

[@NextLevelGardening]

Thank you. Yes not too bad.

[@lisaf568]

I am with you on Dandelions, they are a huge issue in California! Your tulips are amazing. I am going to try that next year!!!

[@wandakelly2173]

Thanks for how to make gopher baskets. At my home, it’s voles. I have bought the hardware cloth. I wasn’t sure how to make it work! Thanks 😊

[@getitright5863]

Lol, love dandelions leaves in my salad and tea very detoxifying. Great for your liver.

[@tgardenchicken1780]

yay! Love my dandelions

[@camicri4263]

😂😂😂 You can eat dendilion in small amounts hidden amongst salad and stuff. I am not crazy about it but I don't mind it either. I happen to like bitter greens. I will try to cook it in a few different ways and let you know if it's more acceptable.😂😂😂. I did started laughing when you said that because I was one of the people that said it. Even if they die over the winter, there's plenty of seeds and will come back. Brian, somethings take a while to get used to eating, I am not telling you to do it, I just wanted you to be aware of it and maybe dry some for tea. When you need stuff like this, you would be surprised how you do it. You can also put it in empty capsules and take it this way if needs be. Anyway, I loved your honest reaction! Priceless! 🤗❤️

[@pjsviking]

Dandelions/cold climate (5a and 4b) - they survive just fine - VERY deep roots. My mother used to eat them mostly as salad greens. We didn't as we grew up in urban areas where herbicides were used quite freely. As herbicides are banned in our area now, suppose we could get into it. In the meantime we do leave them to brighten our spring lawns and provide some of pollinators' first spring food. We cut the grass just as the seed heads are starting to form, continue cutting for the summer leaving them for next spring. They're green after all :O) and blend in just fine with the grass.

[@loisford3406]

When I make my gopher baskets I use the clips and plyers that are used for making rabbit cages. really easy to use and quite cheep. Can be purchased at most feed stores, better than trying to bend little pieces of wirer.

[@magdalenariosmetcalf3088]

Go for the slightly more expensive crimpers/pliers because the handles are way easier on the hands than the skinny cheap ones.

[@laruesiens8090]

Love watching your progress!! AND YES Dandelions greens are eatable, AND YES they seed like crazy!! Keep up the great lessons for us all and good luck with all that rain.

[@johanna6050]

edible

[@SoulsJourney]

Dandelions are forever. They are perennials, and cold and freezing temps have no effect. They are a good source of food for insects early in the spring when nothing else is blooming yet. They also help improve the soil by bringing up calcium, help aerate it, etc. Anyway, lots of benefits from them. There are tons of articles all over the internet.

[@tgardenchicken1780]

Love my dandelions too.

[@tesswagner895]

​@t gardenchicken So do I! 💗 We like to eat the leaves, and roots are medicinal too. Such a happy yellow 🎉

[@tesswagner895]

​@t gardenchicken So do I! 💗 We like to eat the leaves, and roots are medicinal too. Such a happy yellow 🎉

[@user-mc3tp5sd2z]

I spent my childhood springtime on my hands and knees every year digging them out (“make sure you get the whole root!”) to appreciate them, at all. I’ve eaten them in a spring mix, but as far as I’m concerned they are the devil!

[@sharonromero128]

@@user-mc3tp5sd2z Do you like food, do you like honey? Bees are pollinators. Dandelions are among the first flowering plants the bees visit in the Spring when they awaken. You may hate dandelions but, please love the bees and leave a few flowers for them. Many blessings

[@cathybradley3001]

Just wanted to say I've greatly benefited from you book, and thoroughly enjoy both of your channels. On a personal note, I'd like to say thank you for being open about how gardening has aided you through the years when dealing with anxiety and depression. It's takes a lot of courage to put yourself out to society, especially when there's always people that choose to be ass-hats behind keyboards!! Thank you for all of your efforts. 🤓

[@Tea_and_thyme_2012]

Great video. I live in the UK and dandelions are a real pain in the **** no matter how many times you think you’ve pulled them out they still come back. They are great for the bees and other pollinators so I allow them to stay in Spring and then come summer they are pulled out again. I’ve just made some raised beds and followed your video re hardware cloth on the bottom to prevent burrowing animals, ours are rabbit whereas yours are gophers. Fingers crossed it does the job. Thanks.

[@TheNordicfrost]

Where I live in Canada, dandelions are one of the first plants to bloom and the bees love them. It’s true they spread like wildfire and most people treat them as a “weed” here as well. I’ve never tried eating them, but my sister gave me seeds for a none flowering variety that I might try planting this spring.

[@13izeit]

I am looking forward to seeing your garden in the summer. I am from Pacific Northwest, and we have calamity of dandelions every year. It took me 3 years to eradicate them. There are still some here and there, but it's under control. Picking flowers and buds when they appear is one way, pulling them when the ground is moist is easy. They never freeze here even if everything else does. Takes patience and perseverance, but it can be done.

[@vickibluejay]

Thank you so much. I also have to sew the top of my wire baskets together because the ground squirrels come up and over.. And in recent years, they have actually climbed up the pots and raised beds to eat the blooms or the fruit, so I will put chicken wire around the whole vegetable planter and flower pots.

[@noora7773]

Dandelion leaves will be killed by frost but I think they overwinter their root systems. No matter how harsh the winter, there will be dandelions as soon as the snow melts in the spring.

[@vickimedina9166]

I can attest to that here in Colorado.

[@vecherd]

Moles! We have moles. They don't like daffodils either, the things I have planted have been containers of different kinds. The tulips look beautiful! As for the dandelions nope they don't die off I never kill them as they are the first food source for bees in my area,

[@tgardenchicken1780]

Yay! I love them for our earlier pollinators too. Don't find them invasive at all, but then I don't have turf, only gardens and containers.

[@Cindy86314]

We are in northern Az & we have moles also....everywhere!

[@alysonbaker939]

The dandelions in my yard are not daunted by many inches of frost. When you pulled up the dandelions, saying to get the tap root, I went, aye? As the tap roots on our dandelions run deep. I don’t mind dandelions, they are the first to bloom, showing a gorgeous yellow yard. I also eat them, but then I love all vegetables. There isn’t a safe veggie around me. Great show. Thanks!!

[@juliehorney995]

Hey Brian, you crack me up! We've got to have you out to the Midwest for a tour of some zonev5b/6a backyard and Extension gardens. You are invited to meet up at the Display Gardens at Purdue Extension in Fort Wayne, Indiana; maybe some meet and greets with the Master Gardeners? And yes, dandelions die back in the winter if all of their taproot isn't pulled out. Some lawns have a lot of yellow in the spring! Native gardeners here try to get folks to leave them for early nectar for the bees. I love and have natives but no thank you to dandelions in our lawn! Btw, the roots are roasted for tea and flowers are edible too, if not sprayed of course. Lol.

[@marjoriejudge5348]

oh my, you mentioned dandelions 🦁🦁🦁We live in Minnesota across from a neighborhood park on a corner lot . Many years ago , before we'd had the time to establish a lawn and the yard was mostly clover in the spring (after the snow would finally melt and the ground thawed) - the side yard did actually look like we were cultivating dandelions because they spread from the park (they have to be pulled they don't go away w/ the cold in zone 4) .......it looked like a huge blanket of yellow every spring .....it's a lawn now after several summers of hard work . I have a few designated planting zones along the southeast part of our lot -- Several perennials for pollinators and Mexican sunflowers for the Monarchs when they come through in late summer early fall 🏵🏵🏵

[@galetimpone1712]

Thank you so very much for your video. I enjoyed learning something new about planting FRUIT TREES. Looking forward to watching all that you have recorded. Blessing to you and happy gardening.

[@bridscloset]

I am in Zone 6b (New York). The dandelions come back every year. I use them in salads, as medicine, and as food for my guinea pigs!

[@wingandaprayer7777]

I remember the tulip lasagna and they came out gorgeous!! Glad to see that you're starting to dry out a bit! Hopefully all that water that flowed through their holes "relocated" some of them for your - PERMANENTLY!

[@NextLevelGardening]

Thanks! Back to rain today and tomorrow

[@bellepfeiffer3630]

I'm in the northern part of VT, so zone 4 to 3 depending on the type of winter we get each year. I think Dandelions are Rad-hard, the lawn company puts killer on them every spring when they show up and they magically come back the next year. The flowers are kinda cute but the leaves are awful in the lawn. Thanks for answering what's going on with the stilts at one end of the cottage. The whole thing is starting to shape up nicely - can't wait to see it done.

[@michelefox6775]

Am very excited for the espalier video! Love watching and learning from you.

[@lizmckissick3996]

Thanks for sharing! I tried dandelion tea

[@kaydeed2615]

I live in southern Connecticut- Dandelions yum in early spring before they flower. at that point they are not bitter. Note that some types are less bitter than others. they self seed everywhere...When my yard (in a part where my dogs aren't allowed) is full of dandelions I pick the flowers and make jelly. it tastes a lot like honey. when I do that the yard has 😢noticeably less dandelions (at least for a while). but I also leave them at this time of year as they are the only food available for the beneficial (especially the bees) that are just starting to reappear

[@jefferyponts2096]

I bought a home a couple years ago that had over 50 fruit trees. The original owner had planted all of the trees about 5 years before. He used the cages for the same reason. They did not rust and they stunted the growth of the trees. It was a huge pain to get them out. I live about a mile from the ocean in Northern California, so you would think if they were going to rust it would be here. We have become very good gopher hunters and jump on it as soon as we see a new hole.

[@mendynoma4272]

I made a four foot hardware mesh underground fence around a three year old apple tree when digging its hole and I filled the bottom with six inches of broken glass bottles before filling in with soil around the rootball , that was almost twenty years ago, the top of the hardware mesh sticks up six inches, the tree is on semi dwarf rootstock and quite healthy and a good producer.

[@mendynoma4272]

Forgot to mention the diameter of the hole…….six feet

[@lorraineshaw8954]

We get down to the minus 40s here in Northern Ontario, Canada and I have a sea of dandelions every spring. After seeing so much white all winter (we can get snow for half the year or more) the yellow of the dandelions is a beautiful welcome change....and means I will be virtually living in my garden until it snows again.

[@cleelumchesapeakes]

Dandelions are invasive in the PNW as well. I don't like having to dig them up all the time. Whenever I see one, I cringe! You are not alone!

[@lisakruger5289]

That tulip pot is beautiful! I'm going to give that a shot next year for sure!

[@kath-phlox]

UK here, yes, dandelions live all through winter here, we had -15C and they will be starting to bloom very soon. I pull off every flower I find and spot kill them as best I can.

[@owenpurvis2633]

We are in Zone 4 in Wisconsin and dandeloin die back to the ground but are root hardy and come back in the spring. And of course the germination rate for the seeds is about 150%. They are a plague for us in the north too but at least we only have to do weeding for 6 monthe of the year. ☺

[@justjoanish]

Those tulips are beautiful.

[@tamararoberts9307]

I like using the wire that wraps around the hardware cloth for so many tasks

[@jerrylawrence4145]

Always enjoy your very informative videos.

[@cyhomer]

Brian, I did tulips in pots last fall…they turned out great..just getting ready to flower…(SW MICHIGAN) 🌷

[@MiladaKaiser]

I know ground hogs like to eat seedlings, but I thought they only live east of Mississippi.I have never seen one in CA. But I am European so they are quite unknown to me. None of these - chipmunks, grown squirrels, possums, skunks, raccoons live in Europe. By the way- you are making great progress.)

[@jomassey4207]

Great idea and very well made.😊

[@tiffanylamb1187]

Hey Brian. Our winters get down to -30F and yes, dandelions overwinter just fine. In fact, they are the very first food the bees get once they come out of their winter cluster, so us beekeepers get a bit miffed when people spray them or kill them off. There is a PINK dandelion that is much milder in taste that you may enjoy - or maybe just your chickens. They sure are pretty! Thanks for all the wonderful videos. I wish we were neighbors. LOL

[@anitatatum634]

Hey Bryan! In reference to your dandelion question, I'm in zone 7B Long Island NY and dandelions are the heartiest nuisance I encounter here. They survive the coldest winters and the hottest summers. They will take over your property if you are not diligent. So anyone that enjoys them as food or has chickens to feed, come to Long Island where they are I'm abundance. 😅

[@mariap.894]

Anita T@ Call me crazy but I'd love to buy some seeds from you! I moved to Florida, and I don't have any here. My garden would appreciate them (Dandelion tea)😊👍

[@anitatatum634]

Maria P I would be happy to send them to you as the season progresses. Just send me your address and I'll gladly send them for free..

[@mariap.894]

@@anitatatum634 aaaww!! That's very, very sweet! I already asked my sister-in-law to bring them when she comes. She laughed at me and thought it was nuts🤣🤣🤣🤣. Dandelions are good to detox your liver, that's why I ask for them. God bless your kind heart again, thank you 💕 💜 💖 🙏

[@anitatatum634]

Maria P. I'm glad to hear you're getting your seeds. Happy growing and GOD Bless! 😊

[@lindysmallwood2039]

Wow your garden is going to be like a dream garden I can’t wait to see it finished. When will you be doing the thatch roof on the cottage? Thank you for all the great information. Blessing ❤️🌺

[@tammywatts4798]

Another great video. Any advice on getting rid of moles?

[@annekennedy8127]

Yes, just shoot them, like the gophers...works well...

[@KimbasCorner]

Thank you for the 45 degree angle stake tip! I just learned something fantastic! I had previously staked them vertical. 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@hoosierpioneer]

I'm in 5a. Since I don't put chemicals on my lawn, over the years I have fewer and fewer dandelions, maybe the other weeds have crowded them out. I don't care out the grass as long as it stays green for the chickens. I concentrate on the vegetables.

[@sheliadean9548]

Thank you for sharing this information with us

[@deecooper1567]

I’ve made these for some of my trees also👍. 👵🏻👩‍🌾❣️

[@berlyn1187]

Man I am so jealous of your climate! I’m still under several feet of snow! My dream for retirement is to move somewhere I can garden year round!

[@jo-annjewett198]

Other than lettuce the only green leafy plant I will eat happily is chard. Here in south Texas we don’t get many dandelions.

[@jeas4980]

Great information! Thank you!!

[@NextLevelGardening]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bluetkats]

I'm with ya on the dandelions! 😄 I like some greens, but those are way too bitter for me. Love looking at the beautiful yellow blooms throughout my yard though, especially in the Spring. I live in Northern West Virginia (zone 6b) and while I don't know if the same individual dandelion plants revive every year, but there's always an abundance of them in my yard and surrounding fields. For the most part I leave them alone, because I find them pretty and they're great for the pollinators. I only remove them if they get into the few areas where I don't want them growing, for various reasons.

[@diananutt1517]

@Kym Owen 🌄🐝 I'm with you, Kym! Whenever I see a beautiful, big lawn with dandelions everywhere (usually in the country where those gifts of nature can be enjoyed without some uptight government employee threatening you with a citation), I feel so exhilarated seeing the expanse of yellow beauty!! Too many lawmakers are ignorant about the term "noxious weed." They don't understand that plants like milkweed are not weeds at all but crucial to saving one of our best pollinators, the Monarch Butterfly.🦋🦋🐛 We have to incorporate them into our gardens so they won't offend these ignorant control freaks. I'm glad to see all the comments from people who shared how beneficial and versatile dandelions are and how just by being around, they amend the soil.

[@kat6084]

dandelions are usually 1st harbinger of spring here in South Dakota. I dig them up to. nope to eating. BUT I do remember my grandma & mom making dandelion wine. I wasn't allowed any as little kid, so no idea how it tastes!

[@tamararoberts9307]

O such beautiful tulips♡❤

[@MiladaKaiser]

Bryan, my garden in Oceanside just got a major hit of big and strong hail. It is coming to you now, I think. I planted tomatoes 4 weeks later than other years and I JUST planted half of my peppers a few days ago. Now my garden is white.

[@northernerinnc3179]

I've lived in Ohio, WVA, and now NC and dandelions can be invasive in all 3 states--- they are the first flower up in the spring and have tap roots that hang on. Once dandelions go to seed there's the potential of a gazillion new plants. and, no, I don't eat them, but the grocery stores here in NC sell them.

[@judymckerrow6720]

Thank you Brian, everything is starting to come together! 🌷💚🙃

[@tkorkunckaya]

I'd go with a higher grid size on those meshes. in 5, 10 years the roots will be larger that that gid size, what happens then, you cannot take it out the roots will be all over the place. They are galvanized will not rot/rust.

[@marthakratz7877]

I'm with you Brian I would never ever plant dandelions on purpose.

[@elizabethblane201]

Oh, so good to know! I plan on growing some tagasaste trees for fodder in the future and they have a long taproot that must be protected. I was wondering how to gopher-proof them but not choke that tap root. Thanks.

[@evelyngorfram9306]

I have dug up a dandelion tap root 3-1/2 feet long... frost lines lower than than might kill them, but I have my doubts. People often say dandelions are edible; but I have offered freshly-pulled dandelions greens to several of those people and no one has ever accepted. (The younger, tender leaves- I even offered to cook them, & everything!)

[@aproverbs31woman59]

Great idea! Thanks for sharing with us!

[@NextLevelGardening]

You are so welcome!

[@mariademirjian2869]

Thank you very much 😊 God bless you 🙏

[@justjoanish]

I'm in a cold area with cold winters and some snow and lots of below freezing weather. The dandelions will come back the second year and the seeds keep spreading; they are 100% invasive here as well.

[@jessedillin5724]

I live in zone 4b upstate NewYork lake effect snow region and the dandelions come back every year. My acreage I mow is a field of yellow for a time until they die off or get mowed. Lots of gophers to. My parents have an issue with some living under their house.

[@tamararoberts9307]

I harvest dandelion and other wild herbs every spring ( when tender) here in south-central Indiana and dehydrate them and crumble them into our meals (cooking) and you can't even taste them but I do love all fresh greens too. So healthy for you. You should incorporate them into your diet for sure 😉

[@Cindy86314]

Really enjoyed your gopher baskets. All you told was very interesting. Thank you & what state are you in??

[@NextLevelGardening]

Thank you. CA.

[@tamararoberts9307]

Ok you've just inspired me to make planting baskets 😊

[@gardendilemma3275]

Totally agree that dandelions are horrible! Not only taste bad but nasty weed I can’t get rid of. My bunny does enjoy the leaves though.

[@NextLevelGardening]

Thank you!

[@vickieboley9452]

I live in Ohio's Amish Country area, and the restaurants serve a dandelion gravy and biscuits, and the wineries make dandelion wine. It sells like hotcakes! I don't think the plants live overwinter, but the seeds do and it is invasive. Not for me either! Can't wait to see your plans come to fruition!

[@sunflower4197]

Hi Brian, love your videos. Your cottage garden is coming along very beautifully. God bless your family. I am a new gardener looking to plant fruit trees, vegetables and flower plants. What plants or trees do gophers or other ground animals eat. Which plants nedd these mesh baskets. Please advise.

[@bonnies1405]

I found pink dandelion seeds this year and started some sets. My kids think I'm hilarious because I also pay dearly for someone to come and spray my two and a half acres to get rid of dandelions.

[@judymckerrow6720]

Oh my your going to need to have an assembly line to make all of those gopher baskets! 🌷💚🙃

[@suzannegogranogo9464]

Dandelions always came up in the spring in DC. when I was a child. My grandmother fought them. I can't say whether they wintered over or self seeded but we were supposed to pick the flower heads before they seeded.

[@kathyjagodnik8095]

Hello Brian. I would love to find compost like that too!! I am in O.C. I wanted to write and ask you if you have ever heard of the annual MARYLOUHEARD GARDENING TOUR?? She is an amazing woman who passed from cancer several years ago and this is a free tour provided by friends of her organization and the donations go to charity for women seeking refuge from bad situations. This year there are 43 gardeners who have made their homes available for touring all over Orange County. I am sure you would love it too! You can get the who tour information guide at supporting nurseries or download it for yourself. It tells about the gardens, their addresses, etc. Hope you have a wonderful day. Your faithful follower😊

[@DebzZi]

Agree with you 150% on the dandelions 😆 🤣 Chicken food yes, will get the health benefits via the eggs lol!!!

[@gbridger9177]

I live at 7500' in the Rocky Mountains dandelions, come back each year.

[@shirleythomas2136]

Agreed on dandelions, weed where I live too! Which crabapple tree did you purchase? I live in Los Gatos/San Jose area zone 9-10 and looking into buying one also. I am so glad to have a channel to watch that is somewhat the same climate as mine. I am concerned about your gopher "underground" causing sliding on your property, especially after this wet weather we have been experiencing this year. No complaints about the water, for sure. Will you be adding more classes to the School of Traditional Skills? Have enjoyed your input. Thanks

[@grisg.7504]

Hi so, where did you buy your compost? I live in San Fernando Valley. I'm looking where to buy mine.

[@ilenehorowitz3060]

I live in New York. Dandelions sprout up in the spring. They grow from the fluff flying from neighbors from previous years. I do my best to get the taproot every spring as I dig them up before they flower. I agree. Yuk on the flavor.

[@stephanieduncan6778]

Love the videos! We appreciate all the gardening advice. One question for you, where did you receive the mushroom compost from? I'm having a hard time finding good quality compost in southern California. Thank you for any suggestions you can offer.

[@kat6084]

if you're a clutz like me, add long sleeves to items needed when handling the wire. We don't have gophers, just rabbits & squirrels. I just use chicken wire & I put any bulbs in them.

[@Melanieb626]

I live in Central Oregon. First year, voles (they’re little rodents) sage rats, etc, kept getting in my garden. I got 4 amazing barn cats. Haven’t had one issue (with rodents anyway 😂) since!

[@gammayin3245]

Hello - I'm a new subscriber and I really appreciate your commentary which is learned and intelligent. Thank you! Redbuds are so lovely - and did you know that they are nitrogen fixers, too? Have you seen any material about permaculture fruit tree guilds? I am starting a new garden this year and just as your channel appeared in my KZbin feed yesterday, some Fruit Tree Guild videos appeared in my feed this past week. they are so very beautiful and make so much sense that I'm changing my garden design to incorporate them. I hold my best thoughts for your continued success.

[@irili100]

Hi Brian, can you focus on the tree you don't know the name of in the cottage garden? I want to try to identify him. Iris M.

[@pakbowl420]

How much compost did you have delivered and at what cost, if I may ask?

[@pennynewell3459]

To answer your question about dandelions, cold, weather, and freezing, does not kill them. We lived in Alaska on 2 acres, and it was solid dandelions year after year. And I don’t like them either.

[@sabi8381]

Hi, thank you for sharing this informative video. I'm glad you chose not to kill the gophers as some ppl do. One question, how do I stop gophers from eating my lawn

[@nadinehansen9241]

Dandelions are perennials. They are about the first things to flower in the spring and bees use them before they have any other nectar sources. I don't eat them, but I leave them in the ground and let them blossom for the bees. I live in Utah's high desert where it gets below zero in the winter. (This year it isn't seeming much like a desert, which is wonderful after years of drought, but it's delaying my ability to start gardening outdoors.)

[@lindag4484]

I planted dandelions in one tier of my Greenstalk last year. I had never had any and wanted to try them. NOPE! I did not like them either. This year I am doing the same with Purslane. ...fingers crossed that I like Purslane! Curious about what variety of crabapple you planted.

[@fishnlady]

I would like to suggest that the black pots with the trees or any plants in them be wrapped with aluminum foil. The sun heats the black plastic to very hot temps and will kill the roots. The foil will reflect the sun and keep the pots somewhat cooler.

[@dianequist835]

I see a lot of gardeners using augers and giant drill bits for tree and bush planting. Is that anything you would consider?

[@TedSpider2023]

I think he does in another video. Maybe last year?

[@SnowinSummer37]

I live up North, in the Ottawa Valley, Canada zone 5B. I don’t know of anyone who loves dandelions here!!! Not one, except an older couple still making dandelion wine & canning dandelion jelly, but even then they both taste horrific!!! 😂 They over winter here also, so if you ignore them one summer, they come back in the spring with vengeance and their brothers and sisters will join them for the summer party!!! lol We have been known to get down to -30-40c in the winter months. I can’t believe BC is actually is selling pink dandelion seeds this year!!! I never laughed so much in my lifetime seeing it online for sell for 3.50. It’s a hard NO for me on every level. lol

[@chrismorgan6898]

On The subject of Dandelions, Flowers make a great tea and jelly. The greens in salads and the root is very high in antioxidants. Dried into a powder for tea or add to coffee. I have a raised bed 9.5' x 2.5' x 32" great spring crop. You also do not have to grow every year.

[@joanies6778]

Dandelions are considered invasive in my town. If you let them grow wild, you get a warning letter from the city to remove them. The leaves do die in the winter, not sure about the taproot, but they reseed everywhere the wind blows. If I lived out in the boonies, maybe, but my lawn is nonexistent due to weeds, dandelions, and other taproots that are considered noxious. I happen to like roasted dandelion tea that I buy at the store, but I won't raise them to make my own. It's awesome that your chickens got to eat them!