The common dandelion is one of the most prolific plants in the world, being present on six of seven continents as well as all 50 states! And if you have a lawn or grassy area, it is likely that you’ve got these little yellow flowers popping up from time to time. I’m going to tell you how to get your dandelions under control using several methods.
The best dandelion control method for your situation will be decided by how significant an infestation you have. For instance, if you have the occasional dandelion… than you can just pull them up using a weeding tool or screwdriver. But if 30% of your lawn is dandelions then you should skip down to the chemical control.
Passive control
The best way to reduce the number of dandelions is to keep your lawn tall and healthy/thick! Lawns that are 3-4” tall and thickly growing will shade the soil, which can prevent dandelion seeds from germinating or smother them right after germinating. Also, keeping your grass mowed a bit taller will also help, as that will further increase the amount of shade provided.
If your lawn is sparse or has bare spots, dandelions will likely always be popping up. So try to apply some fertilizer or compost to help keep the existing grass thick and healthy. Improving your soil is the key to building a healthy lawn, as with more organic matter you will improve the water retain and drainage profile. And this will happen no matter if you have sandy or clay (see here to check your soil texture).
Mechanical control
In short, if you have a small number of dandelions you can dig them out using a weed puller or even a screwdriver. Insert the digger down near where the root should be and pry it up. As long as you get the top-half of the root you are likely to kill the plant, as the bottom half doesn’t resprout as easily. This job is easiest to do when the soil is moist, so try to do it after a good soaking rain.
I like to really stab the tool into the root, as I’ve found that it is the most effective way to pop the root mass out of the ground. And if the root is holding really well, I can still cut the root with the prongs on the tool, which is also effective at killing the dandelion.
One more point regarding dandelions that you pull – you can compost them. I have been known to fill a 5-gallon bucket with dandelions and just add them to my compost pile. It is a fresh green material, so go right ahead and put them in. However, if the white fluffy seed heads are present, make sure your pile is hot enough to kill the seed.
Chemical control
If you are trying to eliminate dandelions from your lawn and there appear to be hundreds or thousands, then chemical control is the best option.
Either spot-treating the dandelions with a herbicide that contains 2,4-D or the bags of ‘weed and feed’ that you apply with a spreader will do the job. Just make sure you follow the instructions exactly for it to be effective. Many sprays or granular solutions have distinct temperature requirements as well as how long to wait before watering/raining.
For spot treating, try to get a decent amount on the leaves, but don’t overspray so much that the herbicide runs off. You don’t need to spray the flower, as the plant will absorb the herbicide through the leaves. Also, the herbicide will stick to the leaves much better then the stem or flowerhead.
Try to spray on a calm day when the wind isn’t blowing, and make sure to keep the herbicide off your skin by wearing gloves and pants. Personally I have a pair of goat-skin gloves that I use (I’ve been using them for 5-6 years).
Control for major dandelion infestations – applying the weed and feed
If a huge portion of your lawn appears to be dandelions or just general weeds, you should consider either hiring a company to treat your lawn, or doing it yourself with a granular weed and feed. Weed and Feed herbicides are usually applied in mid to late Spring or Fall just before cold temperatures set in.
Many do-it-yourself people have problems using granular weed and feed. And their problem stems from the fact that they don’t follow the instructions carefully! Most people will treat granular weed and feed just like granular fertilizer, and apply it whenever then water it in. But this will not work with granular herbicide, as granular herbicides must stick to the leaves to be effective.
So, to apply a granular herbicide method, timing is key to making an effective application. You want to apply the granular weed and feed in the morning when there is dew on the leaves, as that will allow the granules to stick to the leaves. But, you want to make sure that no rain is expected for 24-72 hours. Typically the granules need to stay on the leaves for at least 24 hours to be absorbed by the plant. Also, make sure you are wearing long pants, gloves, and potentially a mask when applying the herbicide.
For spreaders, I have one with an edge guard. This allows me to only ‘spread’ the fertilizer out the front and side, which means I can easily keep the granules off my sidewalk, patio, and driveway. But try to get a broadcast spreader to save time if nothing else. I can do my 15,000 square foot lawn in 20 minutes.
Now this is the point of the article where I’m supposed to put affiliate links, and you can go to our recommended products page to access them. But the real tip is that you don’t need to buy a new spreader. Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace are full of used spreaders. I bought mine for $15 a few years ago, as opposed to $50-$100 for a new one. And it works fine, so don’t bother buying new unless you are in a pinch. Just try to get one in early spring or fall when people are selling them cheap.
Do I need to keep kids and pets of the lawn?
As far as children and pets are concerned, you don’t want them touching the grass or leaves that have herbicide on them. If you were spot treating with a liquid herbicide, then keep kids/pets out of the area until the herbicide has dried (& follow label instructions/warnings). If you put down a large granular bag of weed and feed, don’t let kids or pets into the grass until either rain or you (with sprinklers) have washed away the herbicide. You don’t want anyone coming in contact with that stuff until it is washed off. Also, you wouldn’t want people tracking it into your home!
When is the best time to control dandelions?
The most effective time to treat dandelions is in late Spring with a granular weed and feed. I’ve found the best way to apply it is to do so early in the morning when dew is covering the grass. This will cause the granules and powder to stick to the leaves, which will subsequently absorb the poison. Make sure you wear long pants/socks/shoes when applying it, as well as gloves.
Learn more about controlling invasive species here
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