How to Get Rid of Dandelions: 4 Ways to Remove Dandelions

The common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a flowering, broadleaf perennial plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family. They bloom bright yellow flowers that open up into the dandelion’s signature white lollipop-shaped seed head (sometimes called the puffball, pappus, or “blowball”). Dandelion plants are one of the most common broadleaf weeds in the US. The fuzzy puffball seeds become dislodged on breezy days, which helps the plants disperse the seeds for reproduction.

Dandelions aren’t inherently bad for your yard. Still,many home gardeners consider dandelions to be weeds since they spread incredibly quickly through an area, compete with lawn grass and ornamentals for nutrients, and can be difficult to completely eradicate once established.

A weed is any plant that you consider undesirable in your yard and garden; common lawn weeds include crabgrass and creeping Charlie. However, not all gardeners consider dandelions to be weeds. You can grow dandelions for decorative purposes or to eat—dandelion greens are a bitter and nutritious addition to salads and other dishes.

If you have dandelions growing in unwanted places in your garden, lawn, or flowerbeds, you can kill dandelions with a few different methods. Here are four ways:

1. 1. Pour boiling water on the plants. Use boiling water as a home remedy when you need to spot treat a few dandelion areas in your yard. To do this, pour boiling water over the plants, making sure it soaks the ground enough to burn the taproot. You may need to repeat this over the course of several days before the plant shrivels and you can remove it. Don’t touch other nearby plants with the water or you’ll burn them, too.
2. 2. Pull up the taproot. Though it takes hard work, hand pulling is an effective dandelion-removal technique. However, you can’t simply cut off the flowerheads or pull the flower stem until it breaks—dandelions are perennial weeds that grow through long taproots, and if the dandelion roots stay in the ground, the entire plant will resprout repeatedly. Instead, you’ll need to remove the entire taproot to eradicate the plant. To do this, use a hand shovel, weeding knife, or specialized dandelion puller to dig into the soil and dig up the taproot. You may need to go quite deep—dandelion taproots can grow six to eighteen inches in length. You can use some water to loosen the soil first.
3. 3. Try homemade herbicides. You can make dandelion herbicides using a number of common ingredients you may already have at home. Popular natural weed killer options include borax (mix 1 cup of borax to 1 ½ gallon of water), acids (mix ¼ cup lemon juice, 1 cup white vinegar, and 1 tablespoon dish soap), and rubbing alcohol. Choose an option and mix the ingredients in a spray bottle, then spray directly on the dandelions. Natural herbicides aren’t as powerful or fast-acting as store-bought weed killers, but they are an affordable, DIY alternative to commercial-strength chemicals.
4. 4. Spread a postemergent weed killer. In extreme cases of dandelion growth, you may choose a chemical herbicide, which attacks the plants and kills them all the way down to the taproots. You can use a nonselective herbicide (which will kill all plant life it comes into contact with) if you want to use a weed killer in an area without other plants around. If you want to remove dandelions but maintain your lawn or other nearby plants, use a selective herbicide or broadleaf herbicide (which targets dandelions or broadleaf weeds specifically).

Once your yard is free of dandelions, here are a few techniques to help with dandelion control as you try to keep new growth to a minimum:

1. 1. Bag your yard and grass clippings. When you mow, weed, or prune, bag your clippings immediately to avoid errant dandelion seeds from spreading and germinating.
2. 2. Keep your plants healthy. Healthy yard plants are a detriment to dandelions because thriving plants prevent opportunistic weeds from getting a foothold. Water on schedule, fertilize regularly, mulch, and plant densely (or for a healthy lawn, plan to buy extra grass seeds so you can overseed). If you create a thriving yard or garden you reduce the likelihood of new dandelion growth.
3. 3. Mow your lawn often. If you have a lawn, practice good lawn care by mowing your lawn often. This helps prevent new dandelion flowers from turning into white puffballs that spread more fluffy seeds, resulting in new dandelion plants.
4. 4. Spread a preemergent weed killer. If you’re very concerned about potential dandelion growth, you can treat your soil with a preemergent weed killer to kill dandelions before they even sprout. Options include corn gluten (an organic preemergent herbicide) or chemical options. The best time to use a preemergent herbicide is in early spring before any weeds begin to emerge.

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