Are Dandelions Weeds?
How to get rid of dandelions permanently can be challenging, especially if you don’t know what you are dealing with. So, what are dandelions? Dandelions are perennial weeds with bright yellow flowers.
Dandelions have deep taproots, making it hard to remove them permanently. You are probably here because you want to know how to remove dandelions or the best dandelion killer. You’ve come to the right place. Let’s dive in.
What Kills Dandelions?
Various approaches to dandelion management and solutions to killing these stubborn weeds exist. Remember that you may have to use all dandelion-removal techniques repeatedly each year.
Dandelion weeds are difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate permanently from a garden or lawn because their seeds can travel many kilometers on the wind. Here are a few homemade solutions you can use as weed and dandelion killers:
Baking Soda
Using baking soda to eliminate dandelions around your house will save you money. You can easily kill the weeds that are thriving in the cracks in the driveway, sidewalk, and pathway using this non-toxic solution.
Early spring is the best time to use baking soda to eradicate dandelions. You need to moisten the location where dandelions are growing using a garden hose. Use approximately one teaspoon of baking soda per weed of the dandelion variety if you attempt to kill dandelions close to desirable plants.
Ensure you cover the entire plant in white powder from the baking soda, including the leaves, flower heads, and stems. You can freely sprinkle a handful of baking soda on the weed if the dandelions are on their own. If any dandelions come back after four weeks, reapply the baking soda.
Acids
This easy method packs a one-two-three punch on dandelions. You should be extra cautious when applying this solution since it could damage other plants. You will need one tablespoon of dishwashing detergent, 1 quart (0.94 liters) of white vinegar, a spray bottle, and ¼ cup of lemon juice.
If you intend to use it again, combine the dish soap, vinegar, and lemon juice in a spray bottle and label it. Make sure the dandelions get adequately saturated by spraying the fluid directly on them. The dish soap makes the mixture adhere to the leaves for longer, allowing the lemon and vinegar acids to work.
Mulch
Dandelions and weeds can’t reach the air and light required to thrive because mulch acts as a barrier and blocks their access. Use mulch while establishing flower beds to prevent dandelions from growing and becoming an issue.
Spreading the mulch in springtime before weeds emerge will maximize its effectiveness. Before applying mulch, you must take out any weeds already present in your garden by hand or eliminate them with a herbicide.
Eliminate any weeds already present before applying mulch for the first time. To get rid of weed seedlings, rake the region around the desirable plants.
Add approximately 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters) of mulch to the flower bed. You can also kill dandelion weeds by using landscaping cloth in gardens.
Rubbing Alcohol
You can use alcohol to remove dandelions from minor locations like cracks on walls, driveways, or sidewalks. It is possible to eliminate crabgrass, dandelions, and other weeds effectively using rubbing alcohol or isopropyl alcohol. You will need a spray can, 1 quart (0.94 liters) of water, and two tablespoons of rubbing alcohol.
Combine the rubbing alcohol and water in a spray bottle. For future use and safety reasons, be careful to label the container. Spray the dandelions on a sunny day to allow the solution to permeate the plants and ultimately cause them to wilt and die.
Herbicide Granules
To get rid of weeds like dandelions in your yard without spray, you can use granular herbicide. Herbicide granules work similarly to spray in that they penetrate the plant rather than the roots.
Water the space before application since the weeds should be damp for the granules to adhere to the leaves. Alternatively, You can apply the granules early in the morning while the grass and weeds are still damp with dew.
Avoid applying the granules if you anticipate rain within the next 24 hours. Also, distribute the herbicide granules as directed by the manufacturer. Before cutting your lawn, wait three to four days.
Weed Puller
The long dandelion taproots can produce other new plants even if you remove only a tiny portion of the root. However, you can break their life cycle by eliminating the taproots with a weed puller.
The night before, soak the area that requires weeding to ensure the weeds are easier to pull out. To get rid of the dandelion, stick the prong of a hand weeder or weed puller into the ground close to the weed root. Go as deep as you can because dandelions have deep roots.
Hold the top of the weed with one hand and pull it out while pushing the weeder’s handle down with the other hand to remove the dandelion. Verify that the taproot is completely gone from the hole after removing the dandelion weed.
Broadleaf Herbicide Spray
You can try using a herbicide to destroy the dandelions if you’ve done everything else but still can’t get rid of them. These pesticides penetrate the weed’s leaves as opposed to its roots.
Do not use broadleaf herbicide on a windy day to avoid the spray drifting. Try to apply the spray when the wind speed is less than 5 miles per hour (8 kilometers per hour) and when the temperature is less than 85° Fahrenheit (29.44° Celsius).
Spray the weeds close to the ground using a spray nozzle with small droplets and minimal spray pressure. Apply enough spray to the plant to soak the leaves, keeping your attention entirely on the dandelion weed.
Salt
Although it might damage grass, salt is an excellent option for eliminating dandelions. This technique is perfect for usage in places lacking grass, including the borders of driveways, sidewalks, or underneath decks. You’ll need 1 cup of salt, hot water, and a spray can.
In a spray bottle, mix salt and water. To permanently eliminate the dandelions, spray the salty water straight onto them. This procedure works best when there isn’t a forecast calling for rain for the next 24 hours. And the ideal time to do it is in the afternoon on a hot, sunny day. Repeat the procedure if necessary.
Boiling Water
Have you ever thought of how to get rid of dandelions safely? You can use one of the easiest techniques for killing dandelions if you want to avoid using herbicides but do not want to waste your day plucking weeds. How? You can eliminate them naturally using boiling water.
In a big pot, bring water to a boil. Carefully transfer the water into a watering can. Directly apply the water to the dandelions’ stems, flower heads, leaves, and roots.
The plant’s roots will get scalded and burned by the hot water. Even if the plant appears dead, repeat these procedures the next day because the dandelion’s taproot can survive the initial treatment.
Soap
If weeding isn’t your thing, you can restrict dandelion growth with a spray. Here is a simple home cure that uses a few common materials to eliminate dandelions. You need water, detergent (liquid dish soap), and a spray can.
Shake a spray container gently after adding one part liquid soap and ten parts water. Spray the dandelion weed killer evenly over the entire plant, covering the stem, flower head, and leaf surfaces.
You can use this technique to get rid of crabgrass. It performs best when carried out on a hot, sunny day. The soapy residue remains behind as the water from the weed evaporates, drying out the plant. Sometimes, it’s necessary to do repeat sprays for tough weeds.
How to Get Rid of Dandelions Permanently
Dandelions are broadleaf perennial weeds that are notoriously difficult to eradicate. The weed will return yearly and spread its spawn across your lawn indefinitely after a dandelion plant matures.
The solution to getting rid of dandelions lies in that long root. You must completely kill a dandelion’s taproot if you wish to get rid of it entirely; otherwise, the undesirable sprout will return with a fury. The best way to get rid of dandelions permanently is by spraying using a broadleaf herbicide that kills the whole plant, not just the leaves.
This method doesn’t hurt the nearby plants and is the quickest and least time-consuming way to get rid of them. However, most gardeners would want to avoid dangerous chemicals, especially when dealing with a lawn full of dandelions. Therefore, they opt for a more natural option.
To do that, you should consider using this long-term, multifaceted strategy to eliminate dandelions from your yard. Follow these easy steps on how to get rid of dandelions. You will need: a watering can, dandelion killer (pre-emergent herbicide), weed knife, and natural weed killer.
Step 1: Dig Out the Dandelion Plants
Using a watering can, dampen the earth surrounding the dandelion, and then wait a couple of minutes for the water to settle in since any plant is easier to uproot from the ground if the soil is moist. Then, make two or three cuts with a weeding knife along the dandelion’s base. By jiggling the knife, remove soil from the plant’s roots.
Finally, gently tug on the plant by grabbing its base between your fingers. If it still feels stuck, move the weeding knife further before using the dandelion to take out the taproot carefully.
Step 2: Target and Use the Herbicide to Kill the Dandelion’s Roots
You must remove the remaining taproot to prevent the dandelion from sprouting a new plant. Most organic herbicides you can buy at the supermarket are nonselective, which means they will destroy any plant they come into touch with, including your grass.
With that in mind, gently inject herbicide (commercial or homemade) solely into the hole where you pulled out the dandelion.
Step 3: Fill the Hole with Pre-emergent Herbicide and Cover it with soil
Your lawn now has an open area with loose soil exposed to other aggressive weeds because you removed the dandelion. Put a pre-emergent herbicide in this hole to prevent a new foe from establishing itself.
It is not worthwhile to attempt to establish new grass in the region because of the nonselective pre-emergent herbicides used, even some natural types too. Instead, keep your fingers crossed that the established turfgrass plants’ runners will ultimately fill the hole.
Step 4: Now Focus on Your Garden’s Health
Take some time to fortify your lawn after you’ve defeated the weeds. Because robust turfgrass plants don’t offer much room for problematic weeds like dandelions to grow, a strong and healthy lawn will be less vulnerable to weed invasion. Therefore, to maintain a healthy lawn over time, adhere to the following recommended practices:
- To promote a robust, deep root system, water your garden thoroughly.
- To maintain healthy photosynthesis and prevent grass from drying out too rapidly, you should cut only a third of the length of the grass blades at a time.
- Schedule your fertilizer correctly based on the type of grass you have: spring for warm-season grasses like zoysia and Bermuda, and fall for cool-season grasses like fescue.
Although this method of getting rid of dandelions takes a lot of time, it has a lot of appeal if you wish to avoid using harmful pesticides. Consider including these tasks in your regular lawn management schedule to control and handle dandelions on a lesser scale.
You can permanently expel these gaudy troublemakers with a little perseverance and determination.
Is Getting Rid of Dandelions Necessary?
Most people advise against removing dandelion plants from your lawn since they are an essential food source for bees and other pollinators. More so, they provide several advantages to the soil and neighboring plants. Therefore, eliminating an excessive number of these nectar-rich blooms could have detrimental long-term effects on the ecology.
How to Prevent Dandelions
The battle is still ongoing, even if you get rid of your dandelion plants. They will reappear if the entire root system is not eliminated or killed. And because you’re dealing with a perennial, until you use the proper lawn management technique, you can anticipate seeing the same plants emerge year after year. Experts suggest three steps for preventing dandelion infestations:
Control Before They Seed
Don’t let those swooping white seed puffs land on your grass, where they will begin to sprout. According to Holmes, you can keep dandelion populations in lawns to a minimum by controlling them before they develop seed heads.
Before weed seeds sprout, use a chemical-free pre-emergent herbicide (such as corn gluten). For every 1,000 square feet (92.90 square meters) of lawn, spread 20 pounds (9.07 kilograms) of corn gluten and lightly water the area to promote absorption.
Use it with caution because corn gluten will also damage other seeds, such as dandelion seeds. Wagner suggests using a universal broadleaf pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weed seeds from growing.
Fertilize
During the growing season, fertilize your grass every six to eight weeks. According to Holmes, applying the correct amount of nitrogen is crucial as dictated by the sort of grass you have. A strong fertilization program will create dense grass that makes competition and crowds out weeds that seek to develop in the lawn.
Mow Your Lawn High
This prevents weed seeds from sprouting and helps shade the soil. In addition, Holmes notes, “mowing high encourages the growth of a stronger, denser stand of grass, which will crowd out any weeds attempting to proliferate on the lawn.”
Are Dandelions Perennial?
Dandelions are annual weeds with thick taproots that come again every year. Their taproots typically measure 6 to 18 inches (15.24 to 45.72 centimeters) long. On older plants, it may go even further into the ground. When you dig or pull out a dandelion, try to remove the taproot, which should extend 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters).
It grows best when the soil is moist, such as after rain or irrigation. Any taproot fragment still in the ground will sprout, creating a brand-new plant.
When do Dandelions go Away?
Dandelion weeds die in the winter. However, their roots live longer underground. During early fall, they transfer nutrients from their leaves to the roots, making it the ideal time to use dandelion treatment (herbicide) on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Do Dandelion Weeds Grow in Gardens?
You can see the flower and seed heads of dandelions throughout the year. Usually, they thrive in soil temperatures of approximately 75° Fahrenheit (23.88° Celsius), even though they are among the first flowers to bloom in the spring when the temperature rises over 50° Fahrenheit (10° Celsius). However, in winter is when the plants hibernate.
According to Drew Wagner of Sod Solutions, even if the above-ground plant dies, the taproot will live on and sprout new shoots in the spring.
Can You Eat Dandelions?
Yes! You can ferment dandelion flowers to make wine. Also, various parts of the plant are useful for making medicine. According to Holmes, dandelions have a low level of toxicity and are safe for most people to ingest. Yellow dandelion weed flower petals and greens are a great source of vitamins A, C, and K and can be either raw or cooked.
They also contain modest amounts of iron, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E, folate, and other B vitamins. They are a great source of polyphenolic and beta-carotene chemicals, both of which have powerful anti-aging and anti-disease antioxidant properties.
Dandelions, according to Holmes, may interact poorly with several drugs, particularly diuretics and antibiotics, and might induce allergic responses in some people. Before consuming, see your doctor. Additionally, it would be best never to consume plants you recently sprayed with herbicides or fertilizers.
Can You Kill Dandelions Without Chemicals?
Be aware of the limits of an organic alternative before using it. Despite what you may have heard, research has proven that many commercially accessible organic goods can be just as harmful as those made of synthetic materials. Additionally, you must apply them numerous times to be more effective against mature or perennial weeds like dandelion.
Making your weed killers might be risky. For instance, the common home remedy chemical borax is poisonous to animals. Epsom salts, for example, may feed the weeds, while lemon juice or hot water only temporarily suppresses them.
The weeds may initially appear wilted or dead, but they will revive within a week or so. This is so that the weeds aren’t systematically affected by the created substance, which has a topical effect.
Finally, since DIY products are nonselective, spraying them in the wrong places will kill anything they come in contact with, including your grass. Try these products, but be ready to reapply repeatedly and use extreme caution.
To avoid burning the other plants when using the hot water approach, stick with weeds in gravel beds or gaps in the pavement. When your grass is (largely) free of weeds, spread a blanket, prepare a picnic, and raise a glass in a toast to summer.
Follow our advice for mending holes in your garden this fall if you notice scant patches of grass at the end of the summer.
Are Dandelions Good for Lawns?
Believe it or not, the answer is yes. The strong, three-foot-long root systems of dandelion plants can loosen compacted soil. This aerates the soil, allowing water and nutrients to go deeper.
Additionally, dandelion plants take nutrients from the soil and give them back to nearby plants. Finally, by keeping the soil in place, they can lessen erosion.
However, excessive dandelions can deprive your lawn of the water and nutrients it requires to thrive. The challenge is to keep dandelion populations under control while maintaining a sustainable balance.
We’ve Got You Covered
There you have it, folks! You cannot eliminate dandelion plants by simply pulling their flower heads off or mowing them down. Their deep taproot removal can be quite tricky to deal with, making them stubborn weeds.
One strategy in the fight against this weed is to kill the actual dandelion plants. Another is to develop conditions that prevent dandelion seeds from germinating. Use Preen or corn gluten meal, a pre-emergent herbicide, to do this. This kind of weedkiller prevents seed germination, which prevents seeds from growing into plants.
Use corn gluten meal throughout the late summer and early fall (about the time forsythia flowers). Mulching planting beds and avoiding cutting your lawn any shorter than 2 to 3 inches (5.08 to 7.62 centimeters) are two additional ways to make your yard unwelcoming to dandelion seeds.
Dandelions’ seeds cannot germinate in soil shaded by taller, denser grass. You will have less work later on if you take the proper lawn care measures to prevent dandelions from developing in your yard.