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To kids,dandelionsprovide endless hours of seed-blowing entertainment.
To adults, they represent endless hours of weeding.
The most effective management strategies focus on prevention and removal of young plants.
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Heres how to get rid of dandelions and get back to enjoying the landscape.
The Best Ways To Remove Dandelions
Some dandelion seedlings inevitably get through your first lines of defense.
Its important to remove mature plants before they can go to seed.
Hand pulling is very effective against young plants.
How To:For persistent plants, you may want to spot-treat with an herbicide.
What To Know:Iron-based herbicides are designed to kill broadleaf weeds in lawns.
However, some products cannot be used on newly established lawns.
Also, these herbicides are not labeled for use in garden beds.
Some organic products are available to treat dandelions in garden beds, however they only control small plants.
Read product labels for specific uses and limitations.
The tiny seeds need light, water, and space to establish.
Once they germinate, the young plants must compete with lawn grasses or garden plants for water and nutrients.
The idea is to choke dandelions out by limiting the availability of critical resources.
This is achieved through proper irrigation, mowing, and fertilization to encourage healthy plant development.
In lawns, take care not to mow too low, as this opens the canopy to seed establishment.
Leave grass clippings in place and overseed when needed to promote alush, dense lawn.
Theseherbicideskill plants as they emerge from the seed by preventing the seedlings from establishing a root system.
There are several types of pre-emergent herbicides available.
Monitor treated areas to determine if they need a second program.
Preemergent herbicides must be watered in within 24 to 48 hours after software to activate the chemicals.
It is important to note that pre-emergent herbicides affect all seeds.
Do not apply in areas where you intend to overseed grass or plant flower or vegetable seeds.
