How to get rid of dandelions on your lawn?

People who live in private houses or are avid summer residents are well aware of the problem of clogging the lawn with various weeds, which are extremely difficult to get rid of. They spoil the appearance of the lawn and contribute to the fact that the grass on it begins to grow poorly. In this article, we will tell you in detail how to get rid of one of the most common weeds - dandelion. We will also offer several effective ways and mention preventive measures that will help prevent the growth of "uninvited guests".

Dandelion is an unpretentious perennial plant, a bright representative of the Aster family. It spreads very quickly over the lawn, and no weather disasters are afraid of it. Due to the fact that the dandelion reproduces by seeds that are carried by the wind, it grows very quickly and densely. If you simply forgot or did not consider it necessary to get rid of the blooming bright yellow flowers that seem to decorate the lawn in a timely manner, you will soon see that they have “hammered” the entire area. Of course, it is necessary to fight such weeds, but it is quite difficult to remove them, especially if the parachute seeds have already scattered throughout the territory.

There are many different methods of dealing with which you can get rid of dandelions on the lawn, some of them are effective, others are not very. There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a weed control method:

• correctly determine the time of the procedure;
• weed control must be not only effective, but also safe - the lawn grass must not be damaged.

After the procedure for removing dandelions is completed, they must be collected and taken out as far from the site as possible. This plant cannot be left on the grass or ground, and this is due to the peculiarities of the root system - it is very strong and can take root back. If you have a bird, goat or cow, this green-yellow mass can be fed to your pet.

One of the easiest and most affordable options for getting rid of dandelions on the lawn is mechanical action. It is to him that most summer residents resort. There are several types of mechanical weed control. Let's take a look at them.

The simplest and most common way. To implement it, you only need the equipment that is currently available in the household of every summer resident: a scythe, a trimmer or a lawn mower. But the effectiveness of this method is weak, because with the help of the above manual device, only that part of the plant that is on the surface can be removed. The root - the strongest part - remains in the ground, and after a while the plant will again make itself felt.

The method is used quite often and is more effective than cutting weeds with a lawn mower or trimmer. To complete the procedure, you will need a removal tool - special garden shovel. These are sold in every garden store. With the help of a spatula, you can remove not only the top of the plant, but also its root system.

For the method to be useful, you need to dig the plant correctly. For this, the earth is dug around the dandelion, and only then the root itself is extracted. You should try to remove the entire root system. This method, with constant use, will help get rid of the weed much faster.

A chemical agent is a herbicide, which is used most often in the fight against weeds in beds, flower beds and lawn grass, because it is so modern. There are many different weed control chemistries nowadays. There are even drugs that can help you get rid of the dandelion for good. But before resorting to the use of chemistry, you need to carefully read the drug and find out if it will destroy everything, including the lawn grass. Indeed, sometimes the poison can harm the soil.

These herbicides are used to remove dandelions.

• Selective action. The range of products here is very diverse. The main advantage of such a chemical is that it does not harm the lawn and soil. The most popular and frequently used is Lontrel. The main active ingredient in the composition of the drug is clopyralid, which helps to limit the growth of dandelions and their gradual destruction. The solution is prepared according to the instructions. It is necessary to treat the area with a product only after cutting the grass. Early morning or late evening is the best time of day to grout your lawn.
• Continuous impact. These are very strong chemicals, improper use of which can lead to the disappearance of all vegetation on the site. Experts recommend using these drugs only in the process of preparatory work. They cultivate the land before sowing the lawn. The agent is so strong that the sowing of lawn grass is possible only after 2-3 months from the day the soil was treated with herbicide. When preparing the solution, you must act strictly according to the instructions indicated by the manufacturer.

When choosing chemicals in the fight against dandelions, you must follow the safety rules:

• carefully study the instructions;
• use personal protective equipment when processing the site: rubber gloves, a mask or respirator, also, if possible, put on things that you will not mind throwing away afterwards;
• after the procedure, do not let birds and pets enter the treated area.

When buying a herbicide, it is advisable to give preference to products of well-known brands. Also, do not forget to look at the expiration date, the availability of instructions for use, written in a language you understand. All of this will help you acquire a remedy that is both effective and safe.

Folk methods of dealing with dandelions are widely used by gardeners. What is the advantage of such recipes? And the fact that they are based on the use of ingredients that are in every home. Also, do not forget that most of the folk methods are harmless.

• Salt. None of the known plants can survive when exposed to common table salt, which, more precisely, is a chemical compound. This method is very effective and affordable, since salt is a commercially available product. To kill the weed, simply pour 1-2 tablespoons of table salt on the dandelion.
• Boiling water. This is one of the most time-consuming ways to deal with dandelions. In order to get rid of the weed with boiling water, you will have to spend more than one day. The essence of the method is to pour boiling water over each dandelion bush throughout the day. The number of waterings should be at least 5 times a day.
• Vinegar. Using acetic acid, you can destroy the root system of absolutely any plant, including dandelion. You need to work with vinegar very carefully - it should only fall on the dandelion. If acetic acid in high concentration and in large quantities gets on grass or other plants, they will also have a hard time. The acid will most likely burn them out. For maximum effect, use high acidity vinegar.
• Corn flour. The use of cornmeal will also help keep the green lawn from growing and producing small "sunny" flowers. Before planting lawn grass on the site, it must be treated with corn flour. Experts say that a layer of cornmeal will prevent dandelions from appearing for a long time.
• Burner. A gas or gasoline burner is a tool used to burn dandelions. An open flame with prolonged exposure to a weed can destroy it. But in most cases, only the aerial part of the plant dies, the root remains intact. It is necessary to work with the burner very carefully and carefully, adhering to safety measures and using personal protective equipment.
• Pets. This option is possible for those who have geese, ducks, turkeys or chickens on the farm. For poultry, dandelion is one of the most favorite treats. It is enough just to let them go for a walk on the lawn where the flower grows. This walk will be more than effective both for the bird, which is full, and for the lawn, which will clear of weeds. Rabbits can perfectly and quickly cope with weeds. This method is very fast, effective and harmless.
• Improving soil composition. The method is incredibly effective, and most importantly, beneficial for the soil and lawn. You just need to fertilize the site at regular intervals.

In order for your lawn to always look neat and well-groomed, and dandelions do not appear on it, you should take some preventive measures.

• It is very important to choose the right lawn grass itself. You need to buy an exclusively special one, resistant to various weather disasters, and having a strong root system. When buying mixtures, you run the risk of purchasing dandelion seeds along with the grass.
• Everyone knows that the lawn needs to be mowed in a timely manner. But few people know that it is best not to remove the cut grass. Let the grass lie - it will prevent the appearance of weeds, including dandelions.
• If the lawn has thinned out, and the so-called bald patches have begun to appear, it is imperative to sow new seeds in these places. This is necessary so that the same dandelions do not begin to sprout in the "empty" place.
• Watch the height of the grass. Allow the grass to grow up to 6-7 cm. This height of the lawn will prevent the dandelions from growing.

In addition to preventive measures, there are a number of recommendations, but they must be followed during the preparatory work on arranging the lawn. The preparation consists of the following steps:

• define the territory;
• treat the land with a special herbicide that will not harm the soil, but can resist weeds and their development;
• compact the soil before planting.

These manipulations must be performed constantly, at regular intervals. There will be no sense in a one-time procedure. If you follow all of the above preventive measures, the lawn on the site will always look beautiful, and none of the known weeds will be able to grow.

For information on how to get rid of dandelions on the lawn, see the next video.