How to stop
dandelions in their tracks
1) Mow, Mo'
Often:When dandelions are blooming, mow frequently to prevent the
yellow blossoms from maturing into seeds.
2) Root 'Em Out:
Dandelion plants can't
be eliminated by yanking off the tops, but they are easily dug out by hand. A
dandelion digger is a specialized tool that removes a wide variety of individual
weeds and their roots, with little soil disturbance. The tool looks like a large
screwdriver with the "business end" resembling a fish tale. It works by
maneuvering it in the soil, parallel to the tap root. With a small pivot, it's
easy to lift the entire plant, root and all (that's the theory at least), from
its stronghold.
If you raise chickens, rabbits or other types of critters, dandelions are a
favorite green. Remember, they're chock-a-block filled with nutrients, so
they're a nutrional boost to their diet. And you can't beat the price.
3) Poach Them: As
a low tech weed control, pour boiling water over dandelion plants. The neighbors
might think you're crazy, but in 2 or 3 days the plants will look like a herd of
elephants walked over them. Incidentally, this method is also effective against
orange hawkweed. However, if you've got a large area, the best way to control
them is to smother them. This is also known as sheet mulching.
3) Mulch Methods:
Since light increases germination and plants need sunlight for
photosynthesis, smothering plants will eventually kill them. Make your own weed
block by covering plants with cardboard or black plastic and weight it down. If
you are concerned about the aesthetics of cardboard or plastic, you can spray
paint it to match the surrounding area (ha ha) or cover it with grass clippings,
compost or bark mulch for a nicer look.
4) Pickle Them: A
5-percent concentration of vinegar, similar to that found in household vinegar,
is an effective weed killer against annual and perennial weeds such as
dandelions, foxtail, velvetleaf, smooth pigweed and thistle. It works in the
garden or greenhouse.
When applied to the weed foliage, the acid in the vinegar acts as a contact
herbicide that kills the plants but does not persist in the soil or cause water
or other pollution. For older perennial weeds, you may need to apply vinegar
more than once. Try heating the vinegar for added punch.
5) Apply Corn Gluten
MealHere is the ultimate organic weed and feed. Developed by Iowa
State University, corn gluten meal (CGM) is a yellow powder created as a
by-product of milling corn, is primarily used in farm animal feeds and dog food.
It is also used as a "pre-emergent" weed control for lawns. A pre-emergent, such
as corn gluten meal, prevents roots from forming during seed germination. If a
root can't grow, the seedling is unable to obtain water or nourishment from the
soil. Thus, it will dry up and die.
To control dandelions, it is best applied to the lawn about 4 to 6 weeks
before weeds germinate. If you missed the deadline, don't worry. Not all weeds
sprout at the same time, so you may want to apply corn gluten meal a few times
during the growing season. Best of all, the nitrogen in the meal will keep your
lawn green and healthy. By the way, corn gluten meal is not the same cornmeal
you make muffins with. Cornmeal for baking is made by grinding dried corn
kernels.
Where can you buy the stuff? Go to your favorite garden center or nursery, or
through the mail order supply company
Gardens Alive! or call 513-354-1482 (near
Cincinnati, Ohio). They pioneered the use of corn gluten with two products: Wow,
which is pure corn gluten, and Wow Plus, which has added natural fertilizers.
6) BBQ Them: Some
consider it a last resort, but a weed burner torch is effective against
dandelions and other perennial weeds.
7) Be Sickening Sweet:
Mae West used to say, "Too much of a good thing is wonderful." In
other words, improve your soil. Ann Lovejoy, author of "Ann Lovejoy's Organic
Garden Design School," told me how she got rid of horsetail by improving her
soil with compost and mulch. Weeds, which often prefer poor, acidic soils don't
like the good stuff. The same works for dandelions and other pesky weeds. Not
only will they be less apt to take root in the first place, but when the soil is
fluffy, they're easier to pull!
