Kids may love running about, collecting all the dandelions in a yard and making wishes as they blow them into the wind, but many gardeners know this spreads them about, causing more to pop up.

The warming weather means you may be beginning to notice dandelions popping up throughout your lawn. We recommend hiring garden landscaping experts dandelions spread out too much.

While a lawn full of yellow flowers and puffy dandelion balls may be appealing to some, many find them a nuisance. If so, you may be wanting to know how to get rid of dandelions. 

We cover several different methods in today’s blog, so whether you’re wondering how to get rid of dandelions naturally, or are happy to bring out the weed killer to get the job done, we’ve got a solution for you!

Read on to learn more about how to get rid of dandelions in grass. 

 

Why get rid of dandelions?

Firstly, it’s important to address that you don’t have to get rid of dandelions. Maybe you don’t mind the way they look within your lawn, or perhaps you enjoy watching the kids run about making wishes on them. Dandelions are harmless, so there’s no real issue with leaving them in your lawn if they don’t bother you.

 

In saying that, there are a few reasons why you may wish to get rid of dandelions in your lawn. The main ones being:

• They can make your lawn look uneven 
• They have a bit of a tendency to take over and might out-compete other plants
• They often take water that could be used for keeping your lawn happy and healthy
• They can take over very fast, so removing them when they first pop up can help to prevent them from getting out of control

 

How to get rid of dandelions

Dandelions are notoriously a tricky weed to fully eradicate from a lawn, but it’s not an impossible task for those willing to put in the effort. Fortunately, there are several different methods that can be employed to help you on your journey to a dandelion-free lawn.

Before we get into the different methods, it’s important to understand the dandelion life cycle. This will help you to target them at the most effective time and also understand why some methods are more effective than others. 

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. 

Here are a few methods for how to get rid of dandelions in your lawn:

Remove them by hand 

One of the cheapest ways to get rid of dandelions is to simply remove them by hand. All you’ll need is a pair of gloves and you can get started. 

Dandelions have a very long taproot, which can make them a little difficult to pull out by hand. The best time to try this is after a rain when the ground is soft, or if you can loosen the soil around them with a spade first.

Make sure the surrounding soil is damp, then use a trowel, specific weeding tool, or your hands to loosen the base of the weed, then pull. You should be able to remove the dandelion plant in one piece. Once removed, pour vinegar into the hole to kill off any extra roots that remain. 

This method is best used for when you’ve caught the spread early and there aren’t a lot of dandelions in your yard.

Use a weed puller

Weed pullers can simplify the dandelion removal process. There are specialised tools that can be purchased for removing tap-rooted weeds, or you can use a more general garden weeder.

To complete the removal, place the teeth or claws of the weeder around the plant and push the tool into the soil. As you manoeuvre the tool, both the plant and roots should be grabbed, allowing you to simply pull it out. This tool is incredibly handy for those larger dandelion plants that might give you some trouble removing by hand.

Try a specialised weed killer

There are a number of chemical options available for killing weeds, but finding one that targets dandelions specifically is a good idea. When using harsh chemicals in the garden, you should always be careful to read the label thoroughly and wear appropriate protective gear. 

It’s a good idea to apply weed killer to the plants when they’re young and beginning their life cycle. However, there are also herbicides on the market that have been designed for blooming plants, if needed.

Give vinegar a go

If you don’t want to use harsh chemicals in the garden, you might be wondering what is the best natural way to get rid of dandelions? One popular natural method for killing dandelions is vinegar. Simply mix equal parts water and vinegar, then coat the dandelion with the concoction. The plant should begin to die off within a day or two. Do your best to avoid getting the vinegar on the surrounding grass, as this can also kill it. It’s best to do this on a sunny day as the heat will help the vinegar to work its magic.

Sprinkle them with salt

Salt is another natural method of getting rid of dandelions. However, it will also kill your grass, so generally works a little better when This method is great for removing dandelions that spring up within concrete cracks and brickwork. Mix equal parts salt and water together and pour onto the weed. The dandelion should wilt within a couple of days, but much like with the vinegar option, feel free to keep applying until you’ve achieved your desired results. 

We hope you’ve found this article on how to get rid of dandelions helpful. Removing dandelions from your garden or lawn can be a bit of a tedious task, but doing so will keep your space looking neat and tidy. If you don’t have the time to remove the dandelions from your lawn yourself, consider bringing in your local Jim’s Mowing expert to help with the task. They’ll have the knowledge and tools to get the job done quickly and efficiently, so you can be enjoying your dandelion-free lawn in no time. Learn more about our lawn mowing services!