Things You'll Need:
- Water
- Vinegar
- Root digging tool
- Soil treatment
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Step 1
First step is to actually get rid of the flowers when they are actually in bloom. This will help the overall spread of the plants because it will prevent the dandelion's from forming seeds.
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Step 2
So you have stopped the spread of the dandelions. Now for short term destruction use either boiling water or vinegar (5% solution, regular household strength) and just go pour it on the plant. This will after two to three days of application destroy the actual plant.
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Step 3
Next take anything you want and REMOVE THE ROOT! Yes dig the root out of the ground. This will prevent that particular plant from regrowing. You will now have most of the lawn under control from the dandelions. Onto long term control.
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Step 4
There are two main applications you can use for long term dandelion control. One way is to change the actual pH of your lawn. Dandelions prefer a ideal pH of about 7.5 which is slightly alkaline. By making the soil slightly acidic (through topical additives) you will make your lawn less tolerable for dandelions. This is an extreme solution which could lead to other species of weeds becoming a problem.
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Step 5
The other way to treat your lawn is by using a substance called corn gluten meal or CGM. This can be found either online or at many garden stores. This itself will prevent dandelions from growing in your yard by preventing seed germination.
But also remember this, if you keep your yard in a good order weed problems will not be a problem. Many species of weeds grow well in less than ideal conditions, such as an acidic soil or an alkaline soil. By keeping the lawn in great shape will help your chances of weed control and prevention.
