Dandelions - the plant most people love to hate

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Dandelions seem to be the weed that causes most concern to homeowners across the US. It is mainly a concern for the two weeks or so in spring when the flowers bloom and the seed head puffballs are seen as a sign of an ill-kept lawn. The flowers can arise in one day, last for a short time and the puffballs come out a day or so after that. Mowing them off does not seem to help as new flowers arise from the plant the next day.

Dandelion Control - Lawn Care Tips & Weed Prevention


For the most part, dandelions are usually a problem in weak lawns, bare areas or can be found growing along the edges of driveways, sidewalks and streets. They don’t compete well with a thick, well-fertilized lawn that is mowed high and has been consistently watered. One reason they grow so easily along the edges of properties is there is little or no completion from the turf. Weed seeds can blow in from miles away, land on impervious surfaces and wash down and germinate along the edges. Dandelions are a perennial plant and can germinate anytime during the growing season, but most often germinate in the fall. They generally flower in the spring and early summer. Using a commercially-available weed control product is usually the fastest way to rid your lawn of dandelions. Making a fall application of weed control is just as important as applying in the spring. Digging them out will remove the top growth, but a new plant will re-grow from the root that remains underground.