Getting Rid of Dandelions in Your Yard

Your kids might love making wishes on them, but dandelions can be an eyesore on your otherwise green lawn. Dandelions are perennial weeds that spread easily. Not only does the wind blow their seeds across your lawn (and probably your neighbor’s lawn), but a dandelion plant can regrow from just a small piece of the root.

Although it’s a bit of a challenge, you can kick dandelions off your turf and enjoy the look of an evenly-green lawn again. Here are some tips to help you get there.

When dandelions emerge, they first appear as short weeds with broad, ragged-edged leaves almost like lettuce. Don’t let their initial length fool you, though. Dandelion roots run deep — some as deep as 12 inches underground. To successfully get rid of the weed, it is imperative to remove the plant and all of the roots, as even small pieces can start new dandelions.

• Wait until the ground is moist and soft.
• Using a long screwdriver or store-bought dandelion digger, dig all the way around the plant, sticking as close to it as possible. Loosen up the soil around the roots.
• Pry up and completely remove all roots.
• Spray a little weed killer in the hole where the roots were. (For organic weed control, you can use vinegar, corn gluten meal or even boiling water instead.)

If you see that a dandelion has bloomed into a yellow flower or has turned into a puffy white seed head, pluck the tops off immediately if you don’t have time to fully remove the weed by its roots. Dandelions bloom in the spring and fall, so right now you should be able to spot and target them pretty easily.

The first defense against dandelions is a thick carpet of healthy grass. Check out our Texas-grown sod varieties in our online store, or contact us if you have any questions about getting started on your residential or commercial project. We love helping Texans “go green”!