Dandelions can be difficult to remove from home landscapes.
Dandelions are a pervasive perennial weed in many home landscapes throughout North America. Native to Europe, dandelions were originally cultivated in North America as a medicinal herb due to the large volume of vitamins and minerals in the plant. However, dandelions are a major weed in turf lawns and can be difficult to remove once the plant has established large populations in home landscapes. With regular monitoring and early identification, dandelion removal is possible through physical and chemical control.
Description
Dandelions are a perennial weed that prefers to grow in moist, well-drained soils under full sunlight. The plant develops from a deep, fleshy taproot with a rosette of leaves that spread around the crown of the plant. The leaves are dark green and deeply serrated; they often produce a milky substance when broken near the crown of the plant. Dandelions develop a conspicuous bright yellow flower that grows more than 12 inches tall on a hollow stem. The flower gives way to a seed head that resembles a puffball later in the summer.
Physical Control
Young dandelion plants are easy to remove by digging out the plant by hand. Dandelions have a deep taproot and should be dug out at least 5 inches below the surface of the plant to prevent the weed from regrowing. Specialized tools, such as a dandelion knife, make it easy to remove a dandelion taproot without disturbing large areas of the soil. Regular monitoring of your lawn and prompt removal of dandelions are important to physically control the weeds before they reproduce.
Chemical Control
Chemical control is an effective method of treating large areas where dandelion populations are well established. A fall application of 2,4-D herbicide before the first frost will help limit the number of dandelion plants that grow the following season. Spot application of glyphosate in early spring when the plants are actively growing is also effective. However, glyphosate is a nonselective herbicide and should be applied with caution since it will kill turf grass as well as dandelion weeds. Always read herbicide instructions as labeled before applying chemical controls for dandelions.
Cultural Control
You can limit the number of dandelions on your property by maintaining a healthy stand of turf grass and practicing proper lawn maintenance through the growing season. Reduce lawn watering and raise the height of your rotary mower to encourage turf grass to develop a thick root system and dense growth. Thick stands of healthy turf grass make it much more difficult for dandelions to establish healthy growth in your landscape, limiting their numbers.
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