With multiple varieties of Dandelion flowers, it is very common to find them in lawn meadows. Even people consider it a non-native North American plant but still, it often finds in lawns and meadows.
Those who want only green grass lawn, consider it a weed and want to remove it as soon as they can. But still, considering a flower a weed is quite debatable.
Dandelion weed control and removal from the lawn
For general lawn lovers, dandelion flowers are not an impressive choice to have. Let's understand how to identify dandelion and if it is a weed then easy ways to remove it quickly.
Dandelion identity
Following identity factors can help you to figure out the dandelion flowers-
- Color- Most dandelion flower varieties produce white, orange, and yellow color flowers.
- Nature- Less invasive than weed grass like crabgrass, field bindweed but still can affect the entire lawn.
- Height- Can be taller than lawn grass and get height up to 1 foot in ideal conditions.
- Plant type- Perennial flowers, with hollow stems, and without branches.
- Reason of growing- Mixed with grass seeds, no drainage, and native history of the land.
Is Dandelion a weed?
Yes, we can consider Dandelion flowers as perennial weeds. These flowers go in dormancy in winter and appear again in the next spring. They grow in a single stem without any branch and their stem grows hollow.
Another reason for considering it weed is its invasive nature in the lawn.
Some other common lawn weeds are quackgrass, crowfoot weed, lambsquarter, johnson weed, etc.
Why does the lawn need Dandelion weed control?
Considering dandelion flowers weed just for a single reason is not a good idea. Following are some reasons that force us to control the Dandelion weeds-
- Dandelion weeds make dry spots on the lawn after fall. They look ugly on the lawn when they get dormant.
- Because of perennial weeds, their appearance is uncontrollable. So if we let them grow without removing them, they can cover the entire lawn in some time.
- Dandelion weeds affect the overall ideal soil conditions for its nearest grass. It can grow longer than lawn grass that may pinch in your eyes.
Requirements to remove dandelion weed
Well, I know that some of you are not experts in weed handling. It is always better to tackle weeds with some tools and preparation. Following are the basic requirements to remove dandelion weeds from your lawn-
- Long handle weed removing reck.
- Small weed cultivator tool that can pick the remained portions of dandelion weeds.
- Additional body safety kit during weed removals.
- Pre-emergents and post-emergent herbicides.
- Organic compost or fertilizers.
- Long handle bottle sprayer.
- Same native seeds to reseed and overseed the lawn again.
Dandelion weed removal methods
We can remove dandelion weeds in multiple ways but these are not permanent solutions to avoid weeds. Following are some effective ways to remove weeds most quickly-
Picking directly with hands
Although, sometimes people left a few portions of the stem and roots of dandelion flower weeds in hand-picking methods. But still, we can pick them easily if we overwater the soil first. Wetting soil makes strong roots lose their strength and it becomes easy to pick them up with less power cleanly.
Grab with the stem and pick dandelion weed up easily with your hands.
Using weed removals
We can't say that using weed removals is the quickest way to remove them but it can stop the further growth of dandelion flower weeds. It can also kill the nearest grass. So, if you are a beginner and don't know how to use weed-removing sprays, then either take the help of experts or use hand picking method.
Treatment of the area after removing Dandelion
Soil inspection
Choose two sections of your lawn; one from healthy lawn turf and one from the dandelion-affected area. Now, take the soil samples of both areas. Either send them for inspection or check their pH at least. If their pH match with each other then you can use pre-emergents directly in the soil in most cases.
If their pH doesn't match with each other then you need to balance it first with the use of organic fertilizers or compost.
Using pre-emergents herbicides
In unaffected soil conditions, you can use pre-emergent herbicides to restrict the dandelion weeds under the soil.
Use the cultivator tool and scratch the affected area. Make herbicides mixture and spray it in the soil.
The right time for using such pre-emergents is either in the first week of spring or in summer most of the time.
Fertilization of the area
If required then you can fertilize your weed-affected area. Use the same organic fertilizers or compost that you've used before on the same lawn.
You can also fertilize the entire lawn if it is required.
Reseeding and overseeding
After executing all the required steps, your particular sections are ready for seeding. You can seed and overseed your lawn in spring and fall in most cases.
Just scatter the same cleaned lawn seeds in the soil and let them grow.
You can also overseed your lawn during this period to increase the thickness of the turf. But aerate your lawn first or scratch with the reck tool.
Additional tips to prevent dandelion weeds in the lawn
The best thing to avoid weeds in your lawn is prevention and taking early steps. You can keep things basic and a few additional steps can help you to keep away dandelion weeds-
- Make sure your lawn drainage is working properly. In most cases, it is seen that if the lawn has no drainage then it can be a major reason for lawn moss, fungi, and other weeds to appear.
- A shady atmosphere can also invite weeds, so make sure your lawn has sunlight for at least 4 to 5 hours in the daytime.
- Don't use unnecessary weed killer spray on the entire lawn. It may kill weeds but can also kill lawn grass.
- Don't let natural mulching happen in your lawn in the fall if your lawn has trees and shrubs.