Dandelions – or lawn daisies – can be a real headache to get rid of in spring, but there are many organic ways to get rid of the weed without harming your grass
Weeds such as dandelions can be a real nuisance in spring, spreading rapidly and draining your lawn of vital nutrients, but thankfully, they’re easy to eliminate. While it’s strongly advised not to use harsh chemicals in your garden to safeguard local wildlife, homemade remedies like a white vinegar solution should also be avoided on your lawn as it will ruin your grass.
However, Alec McClennan, an organic lawncare specialist from Good Nature, has revealed there are numerous gardening techniques to eradicate dandelions from your lawn whilst maintaining healthy, verdant and lush grass.
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How to banish dandelions without damaging your grass
Choose the correct fertiliser
Dandelion weeds tend to be particularly troublesome at this time of year, with the warmer weather providing the perfect conditions for all plants to flourish and spread.
The most effective way to stop seeds from sprouting is by applying corn gluten meal to your lawn, which forms a barrier preventing new weeds from taking root, whilst nourishing your grass, reports the Express.
Alec advises: “Use an organic fertiliser that feeds the soil and may help minimise new weed germination, like corn gluten meal.
“[It] is an excellent slow-release natural fertiliser that contains about nine percent nitrogen as a protein. Furthermore, corn gluten meal has been proven to inhibit new seed germination to some extent. This means it will help prevent new seeds from developing into plants.”
Mow at a higher height to promote denser grass
Maintaining your lawn at a higher height can prevent dandelions from growing, as the taller grass can block sunlight and inhibit the germination of weed seeds.
Alec suggests that this will also “keep your lawn greener” by encouraging the grass to develop a deeper root system, leading to healthier grass and a stronger, more resilient turf.
As a result, the grass will grow thicker and be better equipped to compete with weeds, ultimately causing dandelions to die off naturally. Alec adds: “Mowing high can help crowd out existing weeds provided that you have grass types that will stand up and fight.
“If your grass lays over and won’t stand up, mowing high won’t help as much. You still don’t want to scalp the lawn, but having the right grass types makes mowing high much easier.”
Use an organic weed killer
Using an organic weed killer is another option. While chemicals should be avoided, there are alternatives made with natural ingredients that can eliminate not only weeds but also moss, algae, ground ivy, and lichens.
Alec recommends: “Captain Jack’s Lawnweed Brew is made from naturally occurring Iron (FeHEDTA) and is safe for people and pets. It will weaken and kill many broadleaf weeds like dandelions without harming the grass. Since it’s naturally occurring, it’s okay to seed the same day you apply it.”
Captain Jack’s Lawnweed Brew boasts iron as its star component, not only vital for maintaining lush grass but also a formidable weed suppressor. Iron interferes with the weeds’ ability to generate energy through their leaves, causing them to wilt and perish.
Make sure to mulch
Mulching, a technique where gardeners blanket the soil with organic matter to nourish plants, is also a top-notch method for keeping those pesky weeds at bay.
Spreading materials like leaves, bark, or straw over your lawn creates a barrier that blocks sunlight and water from reaching any budding weed seeds. While you can mulch in either spring or autumn, the latter is often more opportune due to the abundance of fallen leaves available for the task.
Alec chimed in: “You may have to wait a bit on this, but studies at Michigan State have shown a significant reduction in dandelions on grass that had leaves mulched into it during the [autumn].
“So this year, instead of raking your leaves to the curb, run over them with your lawn mower until they’re all chopped up and leave them on your lawn.”