Home and Garden8 natural ways to get rid of dandelions

8 natural ways to get rid of dandelions

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Dandelions beautify the lawn with their flush of bright yellow flowers. But they are still wild weeds that must be removed as soon as possible. If left unattended, they can use up a lot of the moisture and nutrients from the soil, leaving little for the grass to thrive. Fortunately, there are quite a few natural and eco-friendly ways to get rid of dandelions without harming the rest of the lawn.

Hand-pulling or uprooting

Dandelions are small weeds that can be removed easily by hand. But they must be removed completely, leaving no pieces of their roots behind. Doing so keeps the dandelions from regrowing quickly. Hand-pulling the dandelions with their roots becomes much easier when the soil is damp and soft. If the job still seems tough after dampening the soil, or if the roots have spread quite deeply, one can consider digging to get the roots out. Several weed pullers and dandelion-pulling tools are available in the market for this purpose. Either way, one must keep repeating the process for several years to prevent dandelion growth.

Cutting

If uprooting sounds difficult, one can cut the plants to kill them. This can be done quickly and efficiently using long-handled shears. One should ensure to cut off as much of the dandelion plant (above the soil) as possible. Cutting off most stems and leaves will prevent the dandelions from absorbing nutrients, eventually killing them.

Spraying vinegar

If investing in manual tools and getting elbow grease is not an option, one can consider other instant remedies to kill the dandelions in their lawn. Chemical herbicides are one option. But since they are slightly more harmful and expensive, natural liquids are the way to go. Among natural liquids, the first is a common kitchen ingredient, vinegar. It contains acetic acid, which can easily kill weeds. All one needs to do is pour some vinegar into a spray bottle and spray it carefully on the dandelions. But when using this method, one must be sure not to spray on other plants or grass, or it will harm those too. One might also need to repeat this process a couple of times to kill the dandelions completely.

Using hot water

Besides vinegar, hot water can be used as a natural dandelion killer. Pouring boiling water on the dandelion roots and stems can easily kill the weeds. But since hot water can harm all the plants, one must be careful when using this method and pour the water only on the dandelions. One must also be cautious when handling boiling water to avoid mishaps.

Mowing

If one notices a lot of dandelions growing in their lawn, and way too often, regular mowing might be the answer. It will ensure most dandelion plants are cut off before maturing into seed heads. But it is important to mow high to remove dandelions from the lawn. Doing so will remove the weeds while maintaining the grass and preventing it from going into a shock.

Mulching

The grass clippings from the mowing can be used to make an organic mulch. Once a thick layer of mulch is ready, one can spread it over the dandelions growing on the lawn. This thick mulch layer will cover the weeds, keeping them away from sunlight. Without sunlight, the dandelions will not be able to perform the process of photosynthesis and will eventually die. Besides grass clippings, one can use compost, dry leaves, or bark to create the mulch.

Applying corn gluten meal

When corn is milled, a yellow powder is created as a residue. This yellow powder, called corn gluten meal, can be used to kill dandelions and other weeds. Basically, corn gluten meal inhibits the germination of new seeds. This means applying it to a lawn will prevent the dandelion seeds or any other weed seeds from putting out shoots. Corn gluten meal also contains about 9% nitrogen, so it can fertilize the soil.

Flame weeding

While it may seem like an extreme measure, one can use fire to kill the dandelions. This can be done using a flame weeder. The tool allows one to concentrate and direct flames at a small spot where the weeds grow. The heat will rupture the weeds’ cell walls and kill the plant. It is crucial to try this method only when the soil is moist and properly watered to prevent these flames from starting a fire in the lawn. For safety, it is also essential to keep a fire extinguisher around.

While these methods will kill the dandelions, ensuring the weeds do not return is crucial. One way to achieve this goal is to keep the soil properly fertilized and enriched with nutrients. Homeowners can also overseed the lawn with the grass of their choice. Doing so will barely leave any room for the weeds to grow.

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