As beautiful as the yellow dandelion flowers look in pastures, dandelions are less popular in the garden. They even grow through narrow gaps in paving slabs and form large rosettes in otherwise well-kept lawns. Find out here which methods promise success in the fight against the dandelion.
How do I effectively remove dandelion weeds?
To effectively remove dandelion weeds, it is recommended to cut out the plant with a special weed cutter before it forms seeds. Alternatively, hot water can be poured over the plant to damage its cellular structure, causing it to die. Chemical weed killers should be avoided.
What makes it so difficult to get rid of dandelions permanently?
Dandelion is very stubborn and can assert itself excellently against other plants:
- It is well anchored in the earth thanks to the one to two meter long taproot. It provides the plant with sufficient fluid and nutrients even in dry periods.
- Each flower produces numerous seeds, which the wind carries far away through the small umbrellas. – These sink to the ground somewhere and remain viable for up to ten years.
Contain dandelions before the seeds ripen
The yellow flower heads provide valuable food for bees and insects in spring. Once the weeds have established themselves, you should leave them standing for now. Cut back the flowers shortly before the seeds ripen so that the dandelion does not spread further.
Cut out dandelions
The best way to get rid of dandelions is to attack them with a special weed cutter (€42.00 on Amazon):
- Prick the soil on the side of the root with the dandelion cutter.
- Loosen the plant by gently levering.
- Take them out whole if possible.
- If the taproot breaks off, be sure to dig up the part that remains in the ground.
You shouldn't simply pull up the weeds, because if any root remains remain in the soil, a new plant will quickly grow back.
Hot water in the fight against dandelions
Dandelions are difficult to remove between paving slabs. Here you can pour hot water, for example cooking water from potatoes or pasta, over the plant. This measure damages the cell structure so badly that the dandelion dies. If one treatment is not enough, you can simply repeat it.
Controversial: The Chemical Club
Chemical weed killers work well against dandelions. However, you should avoid using these products as they damage soil life and other plants. They also get into the groundwater and are therefore spread over long distances.
Tip
Dandelion leaves are not just delicious green food for rabbits and guinea pigs. The young leaves are little vitamin bombs and, with their tart, spicy taste, are a great addition to salads. They are also good for preparing pestos and in herb quark.
