What Is A Dandelion
Dandelion is a wild plant that is very common in many parts of Europe, Africa and America. These broadleaf weeds measure between 5 and 40 cm of height according to the type of dandelion.
Despite being considered a weed, this plant has amazing properties so much so that there are people who cultivate for medicinal and culinary purposes. This is due to the fact that its leaves, which are quite similar to those of arugula, are very rich and contain many nutrients. However, it is recommended that collection for food use or as a natural remedy always be carried out in places far away from traffic and pollution.
You should keep in mind that there are different types of weeds that invade lawns which can be divided into two main categories: narrow-leaved or herbaceous and broad-leaved. Dandelion is a herbaceous weed. Dandelion is very common in the countryside, in meadows and vacant fields. Dandelion flowers are also common on roadsides and sidewalks.
Best Dandelion Killers The Heavy Hitters
Many of the chemicals that have been used in herbicides in the past have been banned in recent years.
That hasnt stopped the industrys biggest names from making adjustments and producing new products that comply with the stricter guidelines.
There are many different environmentally friendly herbicides to choose from that are designed to kill dandelions.
In the interest of making this guide as complete as possible, we decided to review five of the best choices on the market today.
All of the products we include in this guide are good dandelion killers and in most cases, the choice comes down to brand loyalty and price.
Kill Dandelions With Boiling Water
If youd prefer to stay clear of herbicides yet do not want to spend your day pulling weeds, you can try one of the simplest methods for killing dandelions. Boiling water is a natural dandelion weed killer.
Boiling Water Weed Killer
Boil water in a large pot and then carefully pour it into a watering can. Pour the water directly onto the dandelions, including the flower head, stem, leaves, and root area.
The hot water will burn the plant and scald the root system. The taproot of the dandelion may survive the first treatment, so even if the plant looks dead, repeat these steps the next day.
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Spray Surrounding Areas Carefully And Correctly
During dandelion removal, you may not be able to extract all of the taproot, especially in fully developed weeds that have had time to form deeper, more elaborate root systems. Because of this, using a combination of hand pulling and herbicides is recommended for most dandelion outbreaks.
Pouring an herbicide down the open hole after weeding will kill whatevers left of the root in the soil.When killing dandelions with herbicides, ensure youre being careful of surrounding areas. Dont spray on windy days, as this may transport the herbicides to other areas of the flowerbed and kill off plants you want in your garden, versus those that you dont.
Dont use too many applications of herbicide either. In most cases, over-spraying damages the soil and drains it of many of the nutrients needed for other plants and grasses to survive. Weed killers should only be used about once a week to prevent these issues from occurring.
When Should You Remove Dandelions
The best time to remove dandelions is when the soil is moist. Youll want to dig up the roots in the spring before they spread. Besides hiring professional lawn care, you can get rid of dandelions by pulling them by hand. Since they spread quickly, you probably should leave them alone if you only have a few dandelions on your property.
Youll need to remove the whole taproot to prevent the dandelion from creating new plants. You can use a trowel or a long-handled shovel to protect your back. When you remove the dandelion from your lawn, make sure you fill in the bare spots left behind with topsoil to prevent other weeds from taking over your yard. You can fill in large holes with grass seed.
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Homemade All Natural Dandelion Weed Killer
Related Articles
Although their yellow flowers can be used to make wine and the leaves are a tasty addition to salads, few people want to encourage dandelions to grow in their garden. Unlike shallow-rooted weeds, the deep taproots of dandelions make them difficult to pull out. Store-bought herbicides do kill dandelions, but the chemicals are harmful to waterways, people, pets and wildlife. For a healthier way of ridding your yard of dandelions, concoct your own herbicide with a handful of common household ingredients.
Dandelion Removal Solutions That Dont Work
Be careful what advice you follow for getting rid of dandelions. There are some solutions that experts say just dont work for eliminating dandelions. These solutions make it on to various websites as methods that work, but dont be fooled, they can be damaging not only for your lawn but for the environment at large! Be careful.
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Home Remedies For Dandelions With Salt
#how to get rid of weeds naturally without killing grass
Essential Commodities
Way of Approach
- Sprinkle the salt at the roots of the particular dandelion flowers or field of dandelions without spreading the salt to other greenery.
How It Works
Instead of using ortho weed b gone try this natural tip on how to get rid of dandelions flowers. Also, make sure that you should not spread the salt all over the greenery spaces as they cause damage to other plants. So for dandelion lawn care you can use dandelion removal tool that is available in hardware stores.
Hand Digging For Dandelion Removal
The most effective, but also the most time consuming, method for dandelion control is hand digging them. Hand digging should be done in the spring, right when the first dandelion seedlings appear. Special dandelion pullers or similar tools can be bought to help with hand digging.
When hand digging as a way of how to kill dandelions, it is important to remember that you must remove the entire taproot of the dandelion. Dandelion taproots can run deep.
Because dandelion taproots grow deep, it is unlikely that you will kill every dandelion in your yard during the first round of hand digging. Every few weeks, hand dig any dandelions that re-emerge from their taproots.
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How Late Can I Spray For Dandelions
The best time to control these weeds is to treat them with a herbicide in the fall, late October through mid-November. Remember, at this time they are small, developing seedlings. Just about any of the over-the-counter herbicides will take out these pesky weeds before they ever reach the flowering stage.
How Can You Prevent Dandelions From Coming Back
If all the taproots are not killed or removed, these pesky weeds can make a come back on your lawn. As such, lawn care is the best way to control these plants. A healthy and well-managed lawn will effectively compete against weeds, especially the perennial type.
Applying fertilizer to your lawn during the growing season will promote grass growth and, as a result, crowd out weeds. Mowing high protects the soil from exposure hence preventing weeds from germinating. In addition, mowing high promotes the growth of thick strands of grass.
Another way to control dandelions is to use pre-emergent chemicals before the seed heads germinate. This will greatly minimize the population since one fluffy seed is enough to cause an infestation. An organic alternative is using corn gluten to kill the seeds.
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Benefits Of Dandelions In Your Yard
As you can see, diligence and a good work ethic are required to deal with dandelions effectively. Theres one other quality that can help: tolerance.
As home gardeners, we learn over time to sometimes tolerate some insects in our gardens and a few weeds poking up through the mulch .
In the same way, tolerating dandelions will save you a lot of the work they require, especially when you have large areas of lawn or fields. After all, they can be attractive depending on your point of view.
In addition, bees and other pollinators rely heavily on the nectar and pollen that can be found in dandelion flowers. So, getting rid of too many of these nectar-rich flowers can hurt the environment in the long run.
In spite of the fact that the vast majority of people think of it as an invasive and unattractive weed, it is in fact a plant that possesses therapeutic properties, such as the ability to be used as a laxative and a diuretic. Greens from dandelion plants are sometimes used in salads and other dishes that are inspired by gardens.
Regardless of whether you decide to leave some around, or make sure to get rid of them entirely, this article has everything youll ever need to tackle dandelions in your yard effectively.
How To Get Rid Of Dandelions: Physical Methods
Hand-pulling, using a weed-puller, or manually digging the dandelion out are the most effective ways to physically get rid of the plant.
Problems that come with the presence of dandelions can become more intense when the plant is left as it grows. Dandelions compete for essentials like water, air and nutrients. Even if you apply fertilizers, the dandelions will still suck all the nutrients before your lawn can access them.
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Fill In The Hole With Pre
There will be an empty spot on your lawn where the dandelions were and you will need to fill in that space so that new weeds do not grow back. Mix the herbicide with soil and fill in the space. It will be unlikely that you will be able to plant grass there since the herbicide is likely nonselective, but hopefully, the rest of your grass will eventually fill in the space. Thankfully filling in this space with pre-emergent herbicide will discourage weeds from coming and filling the space on your lawn.
When Can You See Dandelions Growing On Lawns
Understanding the growth pattern of dandelions is the first step of dealing with them. Dandelions are usually the first flowers seen in spring. This is, especially when the temperature is above 50F. However, you can spot dandelion seeds during the year in soil temperatures above 75F. In addition, these seeds are dormant in the winter season, but dont let that convince you that you no longer have dandelions in your yard.
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Focus On Your Lawns Health
After removing the weeds, it is important to focus on your lawns health. A strong and healthy lawn is less vulnerable to weeds and other plants invading it. When your turfgrass is strong, it does not leave much space or nutrients for other weeds to take over.
Follow these lawn maintenance tips to keep your lawn healthy and weed-free:
Ortho B Gon Weed Killer For Lawns Concentrate Best Spray Concentrate
Ortho Weed B Gone Weed & Dandelion killer is for use on lawn and grass with a no harm guarantee. Their formula contains three base ingredients to create a powerful fast-acting weed-killing that is safe to use across a broad range of grass types including Bermudagrass, Buffalograss, Fescues, Kentucky Bluegrass, Ryegrass, and Zoysiagrass.
This product range offers four different types of applications, a Trigger Spray Bottle, Comfort Wand, Handy Ready To Spray, or a Concentrate for use with a tank or backpack sprayer. A product of this type is ideal for use as a Comfort Wand or Ready To Spray application for convenience.
How To Use: Spray the dandelion killer directly onto the weed, allowing the plant to absorb the liquid through its leaves. The killing agent works its way down to the roots of the week to destroy it. This fast-acting dandelion killer is rain-proof within 1 hour of spraying.
This product requires contact with the weed itself, not the soil. In my experience, it takes around 10 days to see a clear sign of the dandelions being destroyed. I would estimate around 90% of the plants were killed with the first application.
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Can You Kill Dandelions Without Chemicals
If you want to use an organic option, know its limitations. No matter what you’ve heard, research has shown that most organic products currently available can be as toxic as synthetic ones! They also require multiple applications and won’t control mature or perennial weeds such as dandelions.
Homemade weed killers can be dicey, too. For example, borax, a common ingredient in homemade concoctions, is toxic to pets. And ingredients such as Epsom salts may actually feed the weeds, while lemon juice or hot water only have a temporary effect. Sure, the weeds may appear wilted or dead at first, but they’ll pop back up in a week or so. That’s because the homemade stuff only has a topical effect and isn’t absorbed systemically by the weeds.
Finally, homemade products are non-selective so you kill everything it contacts if you’re not careful about where you spray it. You can certainly give these products a try, but be prepared to reapply frequently and be super-careful about where you’re using them. If trying the hot water method, stick with weeds in gravel beds or pavement cracks so you don’t scald the other plants.
Once your lawn is weed-free, spread out a blanket, fix yourself a picnic, and drink a toast to summer. And if you have sparse areas of grass in your lawn at the end of the summer, follow our tips for patching holes in your lawn this fall.
Ortho Dandelion Weed Killer
Broadleaf Herbicides: Best Way To Kill Dandelions
When it comes to using a chemical herbicide on weeds, the best dandelion killer spray for lawns is a broadleaf herbicide. Using an herbicide specifically designed for broadleaf weeds allows you to spray areas of your yard without worrying about killing your grass.
Popular name brands like Roundup have a separate product from their weed and grass formulas, which are much more selective in the types of weeds they target than the all-encompassing plant killer of their more traditional herbicides.
The best time to use a broadleaf weed killer on dandelions is in the early fall. At this point in the year, the weeds are storing nutrients and food in their roots and stem to help them survive the winter. Having all those nutrients concentrated in a small area allows the herbicide to efficiently kill the plant by eliminating its food source in a few easy sprays.
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Dig Out All Of The Root
Removing dandelions by hand can be an effective method for how to get rid of lawn weeds, but the correct weeding technique is vital. The entirety of the very long taproot must be removed, otherwise the plant might regrow.
If only a few dandelions are present in the lawn, digging out the leaves, crowns, and the taproot from the soil eliminates individual plants, says Peter Landschoot, Professor of Turfgrass Science at Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences .
The easiest time to do it is early spring before young plants get too big. Its worth investing in a good quality dandelion weeder tool , which is a long metal tool with a sharp fishtail end. Loosen the soil around the deep tap root and pull out gently when you feel you have the whole root free. In very compacted soil, this may be impossible, so just take out as much as possible.
Fill in the holes with soil and plugs of turf to reduce the chances of reinfestation, says Peter. You could also add some compost to boost soil nutrition, in turn preventing weeds, and you could plant grass seed instead of using turf.
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Gently Pull Dandelions Out
But no, you cant just yank at the unwanted sprout and expect that to be enough to remove dandelions. We suggest investing in a dandelion puller. Dandelion pullers are special tools that should permit you to reach the taproot and effectively remove dandelions when theyre used correctly. Just be sure youre using it in moist soil.
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How To Remove Dandelions Naturally
Removing dandelions naturally might take a bit more work than just spraying them with chemicals. However, by doing this, youre safe in the knowledge that other plants, grass, pets and children wont be harmed.
There are a few ways you can get rid of dandelions permanently without using Roundup or other herbicides.
These include:
