Get Rid of Dandelions in the Organic Lawn and Garden
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Posted by Jamie McIntosh Apr 19, 2009 |
This weekend, my 6-year-old was mulling over the new dandelion-digging machine he plans to invent. Oh, how have I warped the minds of my young boys, who should be daydreaming about superheroes and stock car racing? Perhaps my son is on the right track however, as he would probably make a much greater fortune with his imagined garden tool than he would racing cars or creating comic books. He acknowledged that his machine would be “tricky to build, because it would need to dig up the roots without breaking the stem.” This child has spent too much time watching mommy wrestle with lawn weeds this week.
Until this miraculous dandelion digger hits the market, organic gardeners can tackle dandelion problems in three ways:
- Dig dandelions with a steel, two-pronged weed digger after a heavy rain, when the roots yield easily.
- Spray dandelions with horticultural vinegar. Avoid spraying neighboring grasses or plants, as this organic weed killer is non-selective.
- Apply corn meal gluten early in the season as a pre-emergent. This stops seeds from germinating, so apply it in late winter or early spring.