DANDELIONS
One of the most easily identified and most prolific lawn weeds, the Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), can be seen in nearly every lawn. The mature plant has bright yellow flowers and wide, deeply toothed leaves. What can’t be seen are very deep roots below the soil surface. The size and depth of the root (known as a taproot) make manual control of Dandelions difficult.
Facts
Although each part of this plant – root, leaf, and flower – has been useful to various cultures for food, medicine, and even dye, it is a commonly lamented weed in the American landscape. Because of its bright coloring, it is immediately noticeable and unwelcome in lawns and mulch beds. This is aggravated by the fact that it has one of the longest flowering seasons of any plant. Each flower can produce about 200 seeds (and remember that each plant has multiple flowers). It is easy to see why Dandelions can be found everywhere!
Habits
Dandelions spread in the spring after the flower dies and goes to seed. The seed head, known as a ‘clock’, resembles a small cottony ball when on the plant. The wind then separates the ball of seeds and blows them off the plant and into areas of lawn and mulch beds (and even crevices in asphalt, masonry walls, and other seemingly inhospitable areas) where the seeds can germinate and establish them selves quickly. The seed can travel up to five miles and, in addition to the wind, can be carried by animals, shoes, bikes, cars, clothes, etc. Once established the new Dandelion plant will grow green leaves until it flowers again the following spring.
Control
Since the roots are so deep, pulling them only make them grow faster. The root would have to be dug out entirely, usually up to 2’ or more below the soil surface, in order to remove the plant manually. A very difficulty task! The best way to control Dandelions is to use an appropriately labeled herbicide (always follow the label instructions precisely). By applying a herbicide to the entire lawn not only do you eliminate the existing Dandelions as well as other weeds, but you also set up a tiny residual layer of herbicide that prevents these and other weed seeds from germinating for the next month or two. The best time to apply the herbicide is when the temperatures are between 65-80 degrees F, with the plant actively growing.
In communities everyone needs to work at controlling the Dandelion weed, as they will easily blow from lawns with heavy infestations to those that have excellent control. Some schools and municipalities prohibit the use of herbicides on public grounds, which explains the heavy Dandelion populations you may see in certain areas.
It is important to remember that the goal is effective control of the Dandelion population. Because of the many unique features of this plant’s propagation and sustainability, total eradication would be impossible.