Get rid of dandelions on your lawn without damaging grass
An organic lawn care specialist has shared how to remove dandelions from your lawn with ease while keeping your grass healthy and vibrant.
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 and lush grass, reports the Mirror.
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
Raising the cutting height of your mower might just leave dandelions out in the cold, by letting tall grass shade out these unwelcome guests and curtail their seed sprouting.
Alec advises that this tactic could also "keep your lawn greener" as it promotes a lusher root system, leading to a healthier patch of green and a more robust lawn overall.
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
For those keen on keeping things natural, an organic weapon may be your best bet against weeds.
Whilst giving chemicals a miss, some naturally crafted concoctions can banish not only the unwanted flora but also deal with moss, algae, ground ivy, and lichens.
Alec said: "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 is making waves for its iron-rich formula, not just vital for lush grass, but also a powerful weed adversary. The trick lies in iron blocking the weeds' energy production through their leaves, causing them to wither and die off.
Make sure to mulch
Gardeners swear by mulching - a technique where gardeners blanket the soil with organic matter to nourish plants - to keep those pesky weeds at bay.
Spreading your garden with items like fallen leaves, bark, or straw works wonders in creating an organic barrier that prevents sunlight and moisture from reaching weed seeds. While you can mulch any time, autumn presents the golden window, thanks largely to the plentiful supply of leaves.
Alec added his insight, saying : "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."
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