Discussions

when we first moved to Brandon 10 years ago we were totally impressed by how good the city looked. Most yards were well kept very few had weeds or dandelions in them. The city parks the meridians and boulevards looked awesome never seen a weed or dandilion. There very colorful flowers everywhere and the residents seemed proud to have the title most beautiful city. Now everywhere you look is covered in disgusting yellow dandelions city parks , boulevards and meridians are eye sores. Residences even in newer areas like Brookwood and the area South and west of Crocus lots of yards look terrible. What happened to the pride in the yards and city. I can't be the only one that has seen this.

The former overly green NDP provincial government banned pesticides and herbicides. A move that hasn't helped the matter any. That said, I don't consider dandelions to be ugly and you can make pretty good wine with them. What I do consider to be ugly are these damn trash bins sitting out on the front streets. I guess it's a matter of personal taste, LOL

not a big deal..does good for the bees and so on. What I find "ugly" is the amount of trash everywhere and the amount of gravel and dirt on the streets.

Last couple of years I have sorta given up. As already said since the Government wanted to appease all the tree huggers and banned anything that worked its hard to keep up. My neighbors barely even cut their grass. Every year it has thousands of dandelions which inevitably blow into my yard. I don't have time to mix vinegar and dish soap and hand paint each dandelion or pull each one by hand. The eco products are a joke that don't work and cost way more.  
 
Thankfully the Government realized they screwed up and hopefully they will loosen the ban as they have previously said. Chemicals, if used properly and minimally on your lawn and on public grounds, can be a safe way to keep our lawns and communities looking beautiful. Educating people on the proper use of these chemicals is the answer not a blanket ban.

if dandelions are the worst part of your day I say your doing quite well  
 
ill take dandelions over chemicals

Triplethreat said "The former overly green NDP provincial government banned pesticides and herbicides. A move that hasn't helped the matter any. That said, I don't consider dandelions to be ugly and you can make pretty good wine with them. What I do consider to be ugly are these damn trash bins sitting out on the front streets. I guess it's a matter of personal taste, LOL "

Brandon Sun? I seem to remember in the 'looking backwards section' a few days ago where it stated that the city of Brandon changed their bylaw regarding the spraying of dandelions (banned).  
 
I can hardly wait for the city's floral display.  
 
I would settle for garbage to be cleaned up more often and for residents to cut their long grass and weeds and yes! even outside of their property fencing!

While in flower I can live with it but when they go to seed is looks like crap.

dueindecember said "if dandelions are the worst part of your day I say your doing quite well     ill take dandelions over chemicals "

...first world problems.  
 
Sad  
 
Marpet

Never mind the dandelions!  
What about the pot holes/roads that need repairing,the city takes forever to repair! and the grass that the city owns that grows so long before they cut it....  
Homeowners are able to leave their yards in any condition including overgrown hedges and trees covering sidewalks,garbage cans left out all week long,Christmas lights still hangin up all summer long!  
This city is run down because they don't care what it looks like! Obviously!

Weeds over cancer causing chemicals any day.

Killing dandelions doesn't have to mean introducing dangerous chemicals into your yard, but you might sacrifice some grass to get rid of the dandelions. Many organic controls kill all plants they touch, not just dandelions.  
Water  
Dandelions soak up some of the water your grass needs to survive, which is one reason to get rid of them!!!!!!!!  
That same water that gives them life can take it away when the water is hot enough. Pouring boiling water over the dandelion leaves can burn them, causing them to yellow and curl quickly. The hot water soaks into the soil around the dandelion as well, burning the sections of roots that connect with the main plant. With damaged roots and no leaves to soak in the sun's nutrients, the dandelion will die.

TWENTY said "Last couple of years I have sorta given up. As already said since the Government wanted to appease all the tree huggers and banned anything that worked its hard to keep up. My neighbors barely even cut their grass. Every year it has thousands of dandelions which inevitably blow into my yard. I don't have time to mix vinegar and dish soap and hand paint each dandelion or pull each one by hand. The eco products are a joke that don't work and cost way more.     Thankfully the Government realized they screwed up and hopefully they will loosen the ban as they have previously said. Chemicals, if used properly and minimally on your lawn and on public grounds, can be a safe way to keep our lawns and communities looking beautiful. Educating people on the proper use of these chemicals is the answer not a blanket ban. "

The city and Manitoba government don't care how things look. They just want tax dollars. Deal with it basically.  
 
I recently shared a photo of a city-owned parking lot with a friend. She thought it looked like a parking lot in Beirut. It's embarrassing.  
 
Neighbours yards and city-owned properties are neglected to the point where I have lost my mow-jo also. I'm not even asking for chemicals. Just mow a little now and then.  
 
Even if everyone mowed in residential areas regularly, there would still be enough dandelions and other weeds/flowers etc on city-owned property and business property to feed the bees.  
 
This new provincial government has a lot to turn around and keep at it.

You couldn't have said it better!!!!!

City needs to clean up the mess from the River water overflow.... get rid of all the large dead trees,sandbags and diggers that sit there all year round...and make the area look presentable,what a eye sore every time I cross that bridge! It's looked horrible and has for years!  
Note to City: Do your job and make our city beautiful!!!!

Let dandelions grow. Bees, beetles and birds need them  
dandelions-pollinators-wildlife-garden  
 
Edited by ReighKilbride, 2017-05-25 11:25:16

Guess you didn't read all the responses here...boiling water kills dandelions!

I agree, the city looks absoultely terrible again due to overwhelming amounts of dandelions everywere.

Johnbisonbear said "    Triplethreat said "The former overly green NDP provincial government banned pesticides and herbicides. A move that hasn't helped the matter any. That said, I don't consider dandelions to be ugly and you can make pretty good wine with them. What I do consider to be ugly are these damn trash bins sitting out on the front streets. I guess it's a matter of personal taste, LOL " Brandon Sun? I seem to remember in the 'looking backwards section' a few days ago where it stated that the city of Brandon changed their bylaw regarding the spraying of dandelions (banned).     I can hardly wait for the city's floral display.     I would settle for garbage to be cleaned up more often and for residents to cut their long grass and weeds and yes! even outside of their property fencing! "

Not sure if your comment about the city's floral display was sarcasm or not, but in my opinion I feel like lasts years floral display was GORGEOUS! After so many years of the same old petunias they really mixed and zazzed things up, and really beautified the city.

Marpet said "    dueindecember said "if dandelions are the worst part of your day I say your doing quite well     ill take dandelions over chemicals " ...first world problems.     Sad     Marpet "

Ah yes the typical dumb eBrandon responses. No one said it was the worst part of anyones day but its close.  
 
Some of us actually take pride in our homes and yards and would rather they not look like a dump. If you want to make dandelion soup and feed the bees go for it but not all of us want our places to look like trash. I have a young daughter that is very allergic to bees (anaphylaxis). Same goes for mosquitoes now anyone can get a buffer zone which essentially ruins the proper application of the product.  
 
Lets take down the Welcome signs, fill in the flower beds. Let dandelions, weeds and bees run the City. Oh and lets be sure to whine and complain when we can't attract anything or anybody to Brandon. Sounds like a great plan!!

Nunya said "    Johnbisonbear said "    Triplethreat said "The former overly green NDP provincial government banned pesticides and herbicides. A move that hasn't helped the matter any. That said, I don't consider dandelions to be ugly and you can make pretty good wine with them. What I do consider to be ugly are these damn trash bins sitting out on the front streets. I guess it's a matter of personal taste, LOL " Brandon Sun? I seem to remember in the 'looking backwards section' a few days ago where it stated that the city of Brandon changed their bylaw regarding the spraying of dandelions (banned).     I can hardly wait for the city's floral display.     I would settle for garbage to be cleaned up more often and for residents to cut their long grass and weeds and yes! even outside of their property fencing! " Not sure if your comment about the city's floral display was sarcasm or not, but in my opinion I feel like lasts years floral display was GORGEOUS! After so many years of the same old petunias they really mixed and zazzed things up, and really beautified the city. "

each year the displays get better!

Great comment!  
My words exactly!

like dandelions and they can grow all they want. If dandelions are making the city ugly for you-I feel sorry for you and your unhappy life. Sorry not sorry.

Its the litter, it's the condition of the RDC (total mess, and has been for years), the streets need to be cleaned, The Sportsplex track is unusable, hasn't been anymore repair in months, is a real shame the mess is still there. The city said they were going to spray for caterpillars? when is that happening? Brandon needs to do a lot more to keep this town beautiful than spraying dandelions. I guess the major focus is on the absurd Riverbank redevelopment.

The main focus is this unkept city!  
(Please read the comments)

What is with residents not mowing their lawns? We have able body people on our street that seem to think mowing their lawn is optional. It's just laziness. Yards aren't that big, it just takes 15 minutes to mow. It makes the street look unkept, including mine that I work hard at to keep neat. Get off your butts people!  
Is there a city bylaw if a resident doesn't mow their lawn and they are reported, the city will mow it and charge it onto their taxes? How long does the grass have to get?

No wonder the bees are dying out! People kill the first flower out in the spring

Who cares about stupid grass, people should have a garden yard instead

pride? because of weed free green kentucky bluegrass? wow setting your standards high...... how about the half dozen community centres that are falling down... lets do less dandelion wining and more community building... thats what makes a great city!!! oh and how about less hockey more arts...oooooo there I said it...

the dandelions feed the bees was on tv its the trash everywhere and the schoolyards never see a kids day for cleaning up garbage in school yards they do this in a town Im from and era of school years we did that too but not in Brandon as for dandelions I keep under control as best I can

is the technical term for a dandelion. Dandelion is a french word dent-de-lion...meaning lion's tooth.  
 
This plant is not shunned in Europe. It is considered a flower worthy to live among the roses or whatever other flower it is near.  
 
We consider them a nuisance because that is how we've been conditioned to think.  
 
Leave the dandelions alone, they're just trying to get by in life like the rest of us!