Today, many urbanites are getting into a new way of gardening, the Greener way.  Many municipalities are reducing the number and type of pesticides available for domestic use.  This is an Earth Friendly concept, but what about neighborhood relationships when your yard, or your next door neighbor’s yard is infested with the brilliant yellow blooms of the infamous dandelion?

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, is an herbaceous perennial in the Asteraceae family (Compositae).  Dandelions are broadleaf perennial plants that have been lauded to have many beneficial uses but in the urban gardener’s landscape they are mostly considered weeds.  T. officinale has been used as a medical herb and is eaten with many healthful benefits.  Dandelions were also cultivated during World War II, the latex produced in the root was used to make rubber.  However, letting the dandelion take over your yard in the city likely will get you in trouble with your closest residing neighbors.

Most yards in towns and cities across the Country are predominantly turf lawns.  As communities age our grass lawn’s vigor can decrease/fade leaving room for the unwanted species such as dandelion that will out-compete the weak turf.  The key to avoiding dandelions is having a strong stand of grass to compete with the dandelion.

Promote Healthy Grass to demote dandelions
Encouraging strong turf growth requires aeration, top dressing, watering and fertilizing.  If your lawn is not growing but the weeds are, consider the reasons why the turf is lacking.  If you can determine the reasons your lawn is weak you can create a management plan to discourage and eventually eliminate the weed problem.  Start looking at the age of your lawn, the fertility of your soil, your location (under a conifer tree, hot and dry) and other soil conditions like compaction, or water holding capacity.

Some locations are not suited for turf.  Dry sites, shaded by conifer trees are a difficult space to foster a healthy lawn.  The acid forest floor is not a place lawn turf will thrive.  Neutralizing lime fertilizer can buffer the acid soil, and top dressing with a rich loam will also help offset the problem.  Organic fertilizer, such as compost, worm castings or manure tea will keep the soil healthy and alive with insects and microbes but can also decrease your pH. Yearly top dressing your lawn in any location will promote a healthy environment for the grass to grow into.

Healthy lawns can be achieved by leaving your grass cuttings on the lawn, or mulching instead of bagging and disposing the clippings as waste.  The grass decomposing will return nutrients back to the turf slowly.  When mowing set your blade height on the mower higher, leaving two thirds of the blade of grass uncut will encourage a healthier root system.

Soil that is slightly acidic can also discourage dandelion establishment as they prefer a slightly alkaline environment, pH 7.5.  Acidifying fertilizer such as ammonium or sulfur fertilizers will promote lush green growth and combat some turf disease.  Do consider your lawns grass species, soil type and current pH prior to using acidifying fertilizers as most grass species will not thrive below a pH of 6.  To avoid burning the grass, apply acidifying fertilizer in the spring under cool conditions (or fall) at low rates.

Manually removing dandelions
Dig Physically digging out dandelions then filling the hole and re-seeding the area with grass is the best non-chemical method to eliminate the hardy perennial.  Preventing the plants from flowering and going to seed will reduce future infestations.  Mow or pull off the flower and dispose of it, eat it or feed it to livestock and pets rather than leaving it on the lawn.

Corn Gluten dandelion control
Corn gluten meal can be used as a pre-emergent dandelion control method.  It is available in two forms, powder or pellet.  Application is similar to using fertilizer; simply broadcast it on to your lawn then water.  The corn gluten will discourage dandelion seedlings from producing roots causing their demise shortly after germination.  Another benefit related to using corn gluten is it contains nitrogen and as it decomposes it will fertilize your grass.  However, do not top seed grass on to a lawn treated with corn gluten as these seedlings will be controlled for a six-week period.

Vinegar dandelion control
Vinegar is another popular organic weed management tool and will kill the vegetation growing above ground.  However, it will not effectively control dandelion as you must kill the tap root to eliminate this plant.  Boiling vinegar or boiling water is an effective strategy for top-growth control only, leaving the root system to regenerate.

Smothering the weed problem is another strategy but takes time and space.  This strategy likely will not work well in a lawn as you will kill the remaining grass plants surrounding the weeds.  To eliminate weeds using this method the weeds must be completely covered so they cannot photosynthesize and new seedlings will not germinate as sunlight is eliminated.

Integrated pest management always is the best strategy when combating an undesired plant or animal.  Utilizing all available methods will ensure you have a healthy lawn that is a source of pride rather than embarrassment. 

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