WHEN it comes to weeds, dandelions are one of the most common types to find in and around your garden.
And although chemical weed killer can work to get rid of them, it’s not always the best option.
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Dandelions can be incredibly tricky hard to get rid of, but some quick solutions, including white vinegar, can leave your grass looking dead and brown.
Alec McClennan, an organic lawn care expert from Good Nature, recently shares his advices for banishing the yellow weeds for good without compromising on the health of your lawn.
He told Express.co.uk that mowing is the best method, since once they’re set in they become even more difficult to banish.
But, the key is to get height of your lawn mower just right.
This is because if your grass is on the longer side it can block sunlight, which stops weeds from forming.
Not only that, but keeping your lawn slightly longer will ensure it stays greet, since the roots will be longer too.
If your lawn can grow dense it will eradicate dandelions on it’s own too, according to the pro.
This is because a thick lawn can resist weeds better than a short, thin lawn.
Alec explained: “Mowing high can help crowd out existing weeds provided that you have grass types that will stand up and fight.”
Simply put, mowing your lawn stops a dandelion’s cycle in it’s tracks.
But as well as adjusting their lawnmowers to a higher setting, gardeners should also make sure they have a bag attachment on their machine to catch seed heads.
Not only that, but lawn clippings should be disposed of properly and not added to compost, since the seen can live for up to five years buried.
Previously, home experts at 21oak explained that killing off dandelions for good requires getting to the root of the issue.
“The main problem is that once a dandelion plant fully establishes its 10-inch taproot, the weed will come back year after year,” the experts explained.
The perennial plants will return next year, no matter how hard you work to spray them into submission unless you can dig deep and remove the roots.
Herbicides will only go so far in killing off dandelions for good, so you’ll need to try a different tactic, like digging them up. It’s easiest with wet soil.
What is a weed? And why are they important?
Simply put, a weed is a plant that grows in an area or space you don’t want it to.
Rebecca Miller, Fabulous’ Associate Editor, and keen gardener, explains why gardeners need to become friends with weeds.
“From nettles, buttercups, docks and dandelions – there are so many wonderful plants that are called weeds. And yet, as soon as the weather warms up, and we spend more time in outside, we want to pluck, pull and kill as many of them as possible, to make our gardens look perfect and pristine.
“Weeds are essential to our ecosystem – many are pollinators, providing food to bees, bats, beetles, butterflies, moths and wasps. And without weeds, these animals wouldn’t survive past early Spring.
“Weeds also give back to nature – when they die and decay, their roots break down, feed microorganisms and insects, and make pathways and tunnels for worms. Bountiful life below means plentiful life above.
“Weeds are also brilliant indicators of soil health – which is important if you want to grow anything in your outdoor space. When microorganisms and insects break down weeds, they release essential nutrients into the soil that plants soak up. They also store nitrogen and carbon dioxide in the ground, creating cleaner air and removing greenhouse gasses from the atmosphere, mitigating the climate crisis.
“So before you pull out every weed in your garden, why not give a few of them a chance to grow and bloom, and see what enters your garden to enjoy the flowers…”
“If you can’t dig up the plants right after it rained, use a watering can to moisten the soil around the dandelion and wait a few minutes for the water to soak in,” the pros at 21oak said.
You should have a hole left behind – and that is what you can target with herbicide.
“The only way to ensure all of the roots are gone is to treat the hole that the weed came out of,” the experts advised.
You’ll need to use precision here. If you accidentally overdo it, you risk killing all the grass and other plants near the spot you uprooted your dandelion from.
Once you’ve destroyed the dandelion patches in your lawn, re-fill the holes with dirt, and consider adding a pre-emergent herbicide to the soil to stop other weeds from cropping up later.
More weed hacks
MORE cheap hacks to banish weeds from your garden for good.
BRUSH OFF: Gardening fans have raved about the Rolson Weed Brush, which you can buy from B&M.
One social media user commented: “This is my new friend. £4 from B&M”, whilst a second agreed: “I used one of these too and it’s brilliant. It removes the whole weed too.”
BAKE IT: Gardening enthusiasts have also praised baking soda for tackling weeds.
One man explained: ”What will then happen is the plants will absorb it, as they get damp when it starts to rain because they’re thirsty – because it’s been sunny. That’s nature’s way of killing it.”
WASH THIS: According to Sam Marlow, a gardening expert, washing powder is an affordable way to say goodbye to weeds.
He advised: “If you’re on a budget, there’s a cheap way to keep weeds at bay. If you want to remove persistent unwanted plants from paths or patios, try using washing powder. It’s a super easy way to banish weeds once and for all.”