Get rid of those false dandelions: Expert gardeners reveal all
Dandelions are weeds that can quickly take over an entire lawn or even paving stones. However, mowing them won't do any good. There's another, much more effective method, although it's a bit time-consuming. Experienced gardeners recommend it.
2:49 PM EDT, May 26, 2024
If your lawn is overrun with yellow flowers, first look closely to determine if they are dandelions or false dandelions. The former are worth keeping, as the milky sap in their stems can be used to make a healthy syrup with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. The latter, however, are just regular weeds.
How to distinguish a dandelion from a false dandelion?
The problem is that both species start blooming in April with yellow flowers. However, a false dandelion has a single stem and slightly bluish, notched leaves, while a dandelion has a characteristic rosette.
If you can determine that the lawn invasion involves false dandelions, the next step is to learn about the method for effectively getting rid of the weeds. Simply mowing them won't help here. Experienced gardeners recommend another method, which unfortunately is a bit time-consuming. But this method ensures that false dandelions won't grow back. After all, it's about maintaining peace for the entire season.
Hand digging for the best results
Experienced gardeners recommend hand digging, for which it's best to use a fork. This tool will lift the entire plant, including the roots. This is very important because traditionally mowed weeds will regrow very quickly. A kitchen fork seems almost perfect for this task - it's handy, sharp enough, and precise.
The soil must be moist when removing false dandelions to prevent the roots from breaking. Finally, the removed weeds should be placed in a sealed garden waste container, and the empty spots in the lawn should be filled with grass seeds and watered.
