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Dandelions in the lawn

Captain_ChaosCaptain_Chaos Posts: 60
in Problem solving
Hi Folks.

I'm trying to improve our lawn and am facing a seemingly never-ending battle with dandelions.  I've bought a tool to remove them (the long, thin tool with a forked end - can you tell I'm a novice :smile:) but it seems every day I find even more of the buggers to dig up.  I'm wary about using chemicals as we have two Collies and we're trying to encourage birds back to the garden.

Any suggestions, or is it just a case of perseverance? 

Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Perseverance will get you there in the end and so will making sure you pull off any flowers you see on dandelions in your borders so they can't set seed before you've been able to hoik hem out.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • Captain_ChaosCaptain_Chaos Posts: 60
    Oh yes!  I learnt the hard way not to let them go to seed.  Any flowering ones are very quickly removed. That's usually when I start to spot the sneaky, green leaves of a neighbouring weed.
    Growing old is mandatory but growing up is optional.
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    A lot of selective lawn weed killers are fine with pets once dry just check labels, a spray type would allow you to target individual weeds.
    We used to have professional lawn care company come and the stuff they used I just had to keep the dog off the grass for an hour or so. All the dandelions went after the first treatment.
    I do notice they grow first with upright leaves then as you mow over time they sneakily start to lay flatter to avoid the mower blades.
  • BijdezeeBijdezee Posts: 1,484
    Perseverence as others said. I don't like to use any chemicals, the ones in the usual shops no longer work anyway.

    Dandelions are a great source of necter for pollinators so I'm leaving mine now. I know it's not for all. 
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    We have one teeny area of newly sown lawn which OH will probably try and keep weed free as it's on its own but all our other "grass" is mostly weeds and wildflowers, some of which provide the only greenery when the grass goes brown every summer.   I like to leave the flowers on as long as possible for the insects and last year I banned OH form cutting a large area in order to increase insects for the swifts, swallows and house martins.  

    Worked a treat but looked awful most of the summer so this year we're mowing paths thru it but leaving blocks long.  No chemicals.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
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