The most common question about dandelions is probably, “Whyyyy are there so many #!$&! dandelions in my yard?!”
Those bright yellow spiky weeds sure spread like crazy, right?
Wait a minute. If you blow on a dandelion’s puffy white seed head, you can make a wish, right?
What if you wish for all the dandelions in your yard to go away? Would that work?
Nice try, but no. Find out why — and a bunch of other dandelion facts.
1. Where Do Dandelions Grow?
Sometimes it seems like they’re growing everywhere, right? In your lawn, in your beds, in your kitchen, in your nightmares.
Dandelions in Idaho can sprout just about anywhere, but they especially love the edges of lawns and the cracks in sidewalks and driveways. These areas are easier for them to send their roots down into the soil, instead of battling their way through the denser root structure of your lawn.
2. When Do Dandelions Bloom in Idaho?
Dandelions are around spring through fall, but you’ll see most dandelions in your yard in late spring and early summer.
3. What’s Up With Those Fluffy White Puffballs?
Don’t be fooled by the fun. Once the yellow dandelion bloom turns into that white puffy ball, it’s all about seeds.
Seeds are everything with dandelions. When you blow on a dandelion’s white puffy seed head, you help a bunch more dandelions grow by scattering those seeds. So that wish idea you had will just create more dandelions in your yard.
4. Where Did Dandelions Come From?
If April showers bring May flowers and Mayflowers bring pilgrims, what do pilgrims bring?
Dandelions. The pilgrims reportedly brought the pesky plant to America from its homeland in northern Europe in the early 1600s.
5. Why Are Dandelions Everywhere?
They're really invasive plants, helped along by those puffy white seed heads. Once the fluffs are picked up by the breeze, they'll drift widely and spread everywhere, which is why there are so many dandelions in your yard.
Those seeds can travel up to five miles!
6. Is There Anything Good About Dandelions?
Plenty, actually.
It’s technically an herb, and you can eat every part of it.
Dandelions are among the most nutritious and useful herbs, with a long history of culinary and medicinal use.
Those dandelions in your yard are loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber.
Boil the leaves or nibble them fresh. Dry or roast the roots. Turn the flowers into dandelion wine or beer.
7. How Do You Get Rid of Dandelions in Your Yard?
So you don’t want to toss them into a salad or brew them into beer? You just want them gone?
The quickest way to get rid of dandelions in your yard is to spray them with a broadleaf herbicide that will kill the entire plant, not just the leaves, without harming the surrounding grass. The key is to kill or remove all of the taproot, or the pesky plant will just keep coming back.
8. How Fast Will the Weed Killer Work?
Sounds like you’re in a hurry.
Sorry, you need a bit of patience here. You’ll usually see weeds like dandelions curl up and die 7 to 14 days after they’re treated.
9. Can You Get Rid of Dandelions Permanently?
That’s wishful thinking. But now you know not to make a wish by blowing dandelion seeds.
Dandelions are never gone for good. Even if you manage to keep them out of your yard, seeds from your neighbor’s dandelions, or even dandelions miles away, can drift in and take root.
But there’s some good news…
Help Prevent Dandelions in Your Yard with a Healthy Lawn
The best method of control for weeds like dandelions is establishing healthy turf, including proper fertilizing, watering, and mowing.
Dandelions hate a thick, healthy lawn. Dense grass crowds them out and blocks the sunlight their seeds need to sprout.
Dandelions love to push through struggling lawns to take over weak spots. So your best line of defense is to keep your grass thick, lush and healthy with a lawn care service annual maintenance program for healthy, strong roots. Then those dandelion seeds will have a tougher time sprouting.
When you choose Lawn Buddies, you get one premium, six-visit lawn care program that includes everything your lawn needs to grow healthy and green, including weed control for dastardly dandelions that’s perfectly timed throughout the year.
Most weeds like dandelions are banished over the course of the six-step program.
But some extra-tough weeds like thistle, field bindweed, and black medic often require a different herbicide, which is an additional visit on top of the normal lawn treatment.
Weed control in Idaho is a process, not a one-shot deal.
Is Your Lawn Ready for a New Best Friend?
Stop worrying about dandelions in your yard and partner with a lawn care company that’s expert in Idaho weed control.
Choose lawn care services in Idaho Falls, and Boise, ID that bundles your yard’s most-needed treatments into one convenient, no-fuss plan that tells you the cost up front.
Welcome to one premium, six-visit lawn care program that includes everything your Idaho lawn needs to grow healthy and green.
Fertilizer, weed treatments, and grub control, all wrapped up in six visits, each perfectly timed throughout the season, so your grass is green and strong and resists weeds like dandelions.
We’ve got your back.
Got a few minutes? That’s all you need to get started.
Fill out the form on this page.
Call us at (208) 656-9131.
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Then kick back and relax in your healthy, thriving yard.
Image Source: Dandelion
