5 Strategies for Getting Rid of Dandelions

Need help getting rid of dandelions in your yard? Here are five tips on how to control the spread of this weed on your lawn:

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1. Prevention is Key. The best way to control dandelions is to prevent them from getting any kind of a foothold on your lawn in the first place. Corn gluten meal (CGM) is an effective pre-emergent herbicide that’s perfectly safe for kids, pets and bees. Spread it on your lawn four to six weeks before growing season starts and watch your green grass grow. Also, before dandelion seeds start to drift, make sure to sow any bare patches of lawn with grass seed. You can even reseed your entire lawn—the denser the grass, the more difficult it is for dandelions to take root.
    
2. Mow often to cut dandelion heads off before they go to seed. But don’t cut your grass too short—five to seven centimetres is the right height—as leaving your grass a little longer during dandelion season blocks light to dandelion seedlings. Also, leave the grass clippings on your lawn as mulch to help keep dandelion seeds from rooting.
    
3. Dandelions love to be lightly but frequently watered. Therefore, when you water your lawn, the best strategy is to water deeply less often. It’s hard on dandelions but great for your grass.
    
4. Killing Established Dandelions. For your family’s safety, avoid using chemical herbicides. They may very well be restricted in your area, anyway. Talk to your local lawnmower and landscaping equipment dealer in Toronto—they’ll have the latest on municipal bylaws. The best way to kill established dandelions is to pull them out at the root. The trick is to get as much of the taproot as possible—the slightest bit left in the ground will sprout up! Spray a natural herbicide like a concentrated vinegar or salt solution in the hole to kill the rest of the root before it can come back to life.
    
5. Be Creative! Pay your kids a quarter for every dandelion plant—plus root!—they bring you. Or get some chickens! They love dandelions, will provide you with eggs and will fertilize your lawn. Keep it fun and stay the course. Persistence is key!

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Hitch City: Your One Stop For All Lawn Needs

Have questions regarding dandelion control? Contact us at Hitch City! We’re your go-to lawnmower and landscaping equipment retailer in Toronto! We have three locations where you are welcome to come ask our team questions; Mississauga, Scarborough and Barrie.