Dandelions are the bane of any home gardener or landscaper. Found in the Asteraceae family, these the flowering plants are both invasive and widespread throughout much of North America.
While some people prefer dandelions due to their ability to “bring up” nutrients from deep in the soil, they are typically discouraged.
But how do you stop such an invasive type of weed from taking over your yard?
Maintain a Healthy, “Full” Lawn
One of the best lines of defense against dandelions is a full lawn. In other words, you should maintain a healthy lawn that’s full of grass, without any open or otherwise voided patches.
If there’s an open area in your lawn, dandelions will probably take advantage of it by erupting through the soil.
To prevent this from happening, mow your lawn regularly, using the correct blade height for the season, and fill openings with a combination of seed and fertilizer mix.
Remove the Taproot
Don’t just cut or rip the dandelion from your yard. Rather, remove it and its taproot system in its entirety.
Dandelions have deep taproots which often extend two to three feet into the soil. Unless you remove the taproot, it will likely sprout back up.
Vinegar and Dish Soap
While you can always use a traditional weed killing product to eliminate dandelions in your yard, a combination of vinegar and dish soap works just as well.
Fill a spray bottle with vinegar and add a small amount of dish soap. The dish soap doesn’t serve any purpose, other than helping the vinegar stick to the dandelions.
You can then spray the solution on any weeds, including dandelions. The highly acidic vinegar disturbs the dandelions pH levels, quickly killing them.
Water, Lots of Water
Dandelions, like all plant life, need water to survive. When they receive too much of it, however, they’ll become saturated to the point where they can no longer survive; thus, the dandelions will die out.
So if you’re struggling to keep these invasive weeds at bay, try watering your yard twice a week. Assuming there’s not a water ban in your area, this is a safe and effective way to deal with dandelions.
Keep in mind, though, that overwatering your yard could give way to other weeds and invasive plants.
These are just a few tips for dealing with dandelions in your yard.
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If we can help with any of your tree care needs give us a call at 512-846-2535 or 512-940-0799 or
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