Not many people enjoy weeding, and so they try to find ways around it. Regular lawn maintenance and healthy soil help prevent weeds from appearing, but for some varieties—like dandelions—it seems like only a matter of time before they pop up. It takes a little more than wishes to get rid of dandelions naturally but there are options.

Do You Want to Get Rid of Dandelions?

Believe it or not, some people don’t mind the blanket of yellow across their lawn. Dandelions are one of the first weeds to appear in the spring—like clover—and so they’re much beloved by bees and other beneficial garden bugs. For some people, it’s the only color they see in their yard, and they like to keep it that way. Plus, with how easy it is for dandelion seeds to spread, sometimes it’s just easier to give in. Hey, you can always gather them for certain food and tonic recipes!

Natural Dandelion Control

If you want to get rid of them, but don’t want to spread chemicals across your lawn where kids and pets play, there are several more natural methods of weed control.

Dig them up. Manual removal of this weed is possible, but a tedious process. With such a long root, you can’t just pull them up suçcessfully. Get as much as the root as you possibly can by digging it out of the ground. To help increase the chances of success, pour a little white vinegar down the hole, and the acidic solution should help kill what’s left. You also want to act fast, because the more you have in your lawn the more likely the seeds will spread and the more work you’ll have to do.

Mulch. Spreading mulch, maple leaves, or even corn gluten across your yard to help prevent any broadleaf seed from germinating. You don’t want to smother your grass with any formula, so go easy as first and see what happens.

Mow. A short term solution to weeding is to simply mow your lawn. Freshly mowed grass gives the appearance of proper maintenance and may quiet your neighbors that constantly comment on the number of weeds. Plus, a properly mowed yard is more likely to grow healthier grass, thus leading to a lusher lawn and fewer weeds anyway.

Contact Cardinal Lawns for more tips on dealing with dandelions and whether you should love them or leave them.