My lawn is a sea of dandelions -- what should I use to treat this and at the same time grow healthy grass?

MML Staff_Erin H EXPERT April 30, 2008

Keeping dandelions to a minimum in your yard is a battle on several fronts. Here are some tips:

• Digging them does help--though of course this is too big a task if there are hundreds of them. Just be sure to get the top 2 inches of the long taproot so they don't come back. (A knife is a good tool for this.)

• Mow your lawn regularly in spring. Mowing prevents the dandelions from going to seed--which you absolutely don't want to happen since one dandelion can create hundreds more.

• You can treat the ones you see with a broadleaf herbicide now. Choose one at the garden center that specifies dandelions. To prevent seeds from sprouting, use a preemergent herbicide such as corn gluten meal in the spring and late summer.

• Through year, keep your lawn in good shape. A healthy lawn naturally crowds out weeds. So mow it regularly. Fertilize in fall or in fall and spring. Keep the lawn well watered.

florencecalef May 01, 2008

If you don't use poison on your lawn, you can eat the dandelion greens! Many vegetarians in South Florida would be envious of you! I never grow dandelions in my yard....may I harvest yours?

cosmobob May 01, 2008

this is not a quick fix, but if you will fertilize and water your yard, then your grass should over power any and all weeds, this is a healthy way, there are sprays that will work and just digging them up and keeping them cut before they go to seed, its a constance job but a good strong grass will smother out your dandelions