I have a huge old cherry tree in the middle of my front yard. The drip line covers 80% of the lawn. I flat out refuse to use any toxic chemicals that could get into the cherries.
I do not have the 'must kill the dandelions' gene. I pull them, but do not worry about them in the long run.
I also plant bulbs in my lawn.
Lastly I do not water my lawn. It usually has turned brown by the end of May and greens up again in September when the rains start.