Last Updated on February 24, 2020 by Ecorf
Dandelions are large, round yellow flowers that can change into fluffy balls of white seeds. They belong to the broad genus of flowering plants in the family of Asteraceae. Also regarded as Taraxacum officinale, dandelions are tap-rooted biennial or perennial herbaceous plants that have their seeds pulled away from the stem after some time.
Although children love the maturity of the yellow flowers into the white puffballs, lawn enthusiasts and gardeners tend to curse the cheery yellow flowers when they appear. That is because the blossoming of the flowers would, over time, become irritating. Ideally, the seeds tend to release after some time and would be later on form yet another dandelion. That informs the reason why home gardeners are looking for how to get rid of dandelions.
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Removing Dandelions with Chemicals
The first thought that crosses the gardeners’ mind is to use chemicals to get rid of dandelions. As fast as the process may seem, the chemicals would, over time, become hazards. That is because the incorporation of harsh chemicals into your may force you to sacrifice other plants. It is tenable because these chemicals do get not only rid of dandelions but also kill other plants in the process.
To that end, you must start looking for other alternatives to getting rid of dandelions in your yard or your garden. If that is the case, we present you with the options you can use to get rid of dandelions in real-time.
Use Water to Get Rid of Dandelions
It’s worth noting that dandelions depend on water for survival. It does that by soaking up the water that your grass needed to survive. Interestingly, the same (water) can be used to get rid of it.
Gardeners have the option of using hot water or boiling water to remove dandelions. It can be confusing because both seem to have the same functionality. However, as would be explained below, a thin line differentiates one from the other.
First, using boiling water on the leaves of the dandelions does not only burn them but also makes them turn yellow and curl faster.
On the other hand, gardeners prefer using a hot water format. Pouring hot water over the dandelions’ leaves allows the water to soak not only into the leaves of the dandelion but also into the soil. Besides, the hot water burns into the sections of roots that connect with the main plant of the dandelion. That way, the water gets to damage the roots. In the end, the roots wouldn’t be able to soak in the sun’s nutrients, while the dandelion would die off.
Hand Digging as a Way to Remove Dandelion
It might interest you to know that you would use your hands to dig out the taproot of the dandelion. Although the procedure may take some time and demands precision, you need to be focused and patient to achieve the desired result.
Below are the processes you can use to get rid of dandelions using hand digging:
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Choose A Season
You don’t hand dig anytime you feel like. Ideally, hand digging should be done in the spring, which is the exact time that the first seedlings begin to appear.
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Get Dandelion Pullers
You wouldn’t need only your hands to pull out the taproot. Instead, you would need to apply other tools, which are mostly categorized as dandelion pullers. Hand digging takes time, so these tools would help you complete the task faster.
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Remove the Taproots
The rule of thumb is to target the removal of the taproots. That is because dandelion taproots can run deep, and the inability to uproot it can cause the plant to come back after some time. Therefore, you must do your best to uproot the entirety of the taproot.
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Redo the Process
It’s worth pointing out that hand digging the dandelions in your garden doesn’t end at the first attempt. Indeed, removing the entire taproot can be helpful, but that doesn’t guarantee the total removal of the entire roots.
Hence, you must embark on weekly hand digging of dandelions to ensure that the re-emergence is reduced.
Salt Can Help You Get Rid of Dandelions
Salt is another organic method of removing dandelions from the yard. The only downside that comes with it is that grass may not grow in the applied area(s) for many years.
If you still want to go ahead with it, then the steps below would guide you through the process:
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Mix A Cup of Salt with A Cup of Water
The first procedure is to get an equal measurement of the primary components, which are salt and water. In that instance, you should obtain and mix a cup of salt with a cup of water.
As a rule of thumb, it is recommended that you use boiled water. It helps to form a more powerful herbicide, which, in turn, becomes a stronger solution for killing the dandelions.
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Choose the Location
Cracks in the driveway and under the deck are the\ best places for using the salt and water mixture for removing dandelions. You can also apply the solution at any other site that you want permanent removal of dandelions.
Remember that the solution/mixture does not only kill dandelions quickly but also prevents the growth of grass in the area for years. So, choose the location/area wisely!
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Introduce the Mixture
Once you’ve chosen the location, you can then proceed to introduce the mixture into the area. You may want to pour the mixture over the flowers or below the roots of the dandelion.
Either way, you can be confident that the solution would leach into the soil and stay there for long until the dandelions are removed.
Herbicides Get Rid of Dandelions
Herbicides/chemicals are many gardeners’ favorite because they are faster in the removal of dandelions. It should be noted that the use of herbicides should be the last resort, concerning how to get rid of dandelions. That informed the reason why it came last on our list.
You should use the steps below to be successful at that:
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Loosen the Soil
The first step is to fill a watering can and use the same to moisten the area around each dandelion. That helps to loosen the soil.
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Dig and Pull out the Plant
When the soil is softened, you can use a dedicated weeding tool to dig into the ground, as deep as you can. Once you’ve done enough, you can then gently pull out the plant. Also, try your best to pull out as much root as possible in the same process.
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Apply the Chemical
You may not pull out all the plants. Once you’ve pulled out some considerable volume, you can then proceed to apply the chemical/herbicide carefully. Pour/apply the herbicide at the bottom of the hole/root to get rid of the remaining plant.
While at it, ensure that you avoid other plants/grass surrounding the dandelions.
Get Rid of Dandelions with Ease
Dandelions can be that brightening plant you would love to have in your garden. But, things can take another dimension when the seeds begin to blossom and start spreading around the yard. That is the perfect time to start removing the plant before it becomes much.
You can use any of the helpful tips we’ve shared above to do that. We’re also looking forward to having your thoughts on any other method concerning how to get rid of dandelions. Until then, start applying our tips to get rid of dandelions with ease!
