Remove dandelions from lawns so they ‘don’t come back’ with expert’s ‘most effective’ tip
While a lawn full of yellow flowers and puffy dandelion balls may be appealing to some, many find them a nuisance. If so, they may want to know how to remove dandelions.
Dandelions are notoriously a tricky weed to fully eradicate from lawns, but it’s not an impossible task for those willing to put in the effort.
Before getting into the “most effective” method, it’s important to understand the dandelion life cycle. This will help gardeners target them at the best time.
Dandelions germinate in as little as seven days, so it’s important to move quickly when they begin to appear to avoid a takeover.
They’ll first emerge from the ground as a small rosette shape before a stem shoots up with a yellow flower at the tip. This flower will then turn into the signature white puffball that dandelions are known for.
This fluffy ball is made up of hundreds of tiny seeds that will be blown away in the wind to create new dandelions elsewhere. If you’re looking to remove dandelions from your lawn, the best time to do so is before these puffs form.
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Luckily, gardening expert Nilufer Danis, founder of the website Nilufer Danis, has shared how to get rid of dandelions in lawns so gardeners can enjoy dandelion-free grass.
The expert said: “Dandelions are a common weed that can be found in most lawns. They have long taproots and bright yellow flowers, and they spread quickly if left unchecked. Over time, dandelions can take over your lawn and make it look untidy.”
To see the back of these pesky weeds, Nilufer claims that the “most effective way” to remove dandelions from lawns “without using chemical weed killer” is by hand-pulling.
She explained that hand-pulling involves using a small gardening fork or trowel to dig around and underneath the dandelion root, then pulling out the entire plant.
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The gardening pro said: “This method ensures that the entire root system of the dandelion is removed so they don't come back for good.”
Additionally, using a small tool such as a trowel means that gardeners can dig deep enough “without damaging the roots of other surrounding plants”.
When hand-pulling, gardeners need to be sure to wear gloves and discard the dandelions in an area “far away from your lawn” to “prevent them from re-growing”.
Nilufer added that regularly pulling out any new dandelion sprouts will help to reduce the number of dandelions in lawns over time.
For those who have a large area of lawn infested with dandelions, they may want to consider using natural alternatives such as mulching or boiling water, according to the expert.
Nilufer explained that mulch can “smother existing dandelions” and “prevent new ones from growing”.
However, gardeners should just be sure not to put too much mulch on top of the plants as “this can cause rot”.
Boiling water is another method to try. Pour boiling water directly onto the dandelions, and “the heat will kill both the plant and its root system”.
This method helps to break down weed structure, is cost-effective, and doesn't add harmful chemicals to the lawn or garden.
