You have to give it to the dandelion: Not only is it extremely tough, but it also reproduces very easily. However, both characteristics can quickly become a problem in the garden. In fact, it takes a lot of effort to permanently remove the unwanted weeds. Weeding alone usually doesn't help. But above all, it is important to get the time right. And that lies before the seeds ripen.
Problem
Rabbits love its leaves, but most garden owners hate it. You want to get rid of it as sustainably as possible and ideally destroy it completely. But why is the dandelion, whose botanical name is Taraxacum, perceived as such a pest? And what are the actual problems with removal? Well, Taraxacum is a very persistent, resilient and, at least figuratively speaking, aggressive plant. This has consequences:
- robs other plants in its neighborhood of their basics
- displaces others and especially useful plants
- grows uncontrollably in suitable locations
- spreads quickly and widely without countermeasures
Its taproot that grows deep into the ground makes the herb very difficult to remove. In any case, simple weeding or targeted uprooting is not enough, as in this way only the visible parts of the plant can usually be removed. At the same time, Taraxacum produces an incredible number of seeds. And these seeds are so light as a feather that the wind can easily spread them all over the garden - where of course the problem starts again.
Note:
Mowing the lawn removes the visible parts of the plant, but not the roots. The probability is therefore very high that it will simply grow back in the same place.
Time
If removing dandelions is to be successful in the long term, the right time is crucial. In order to understand this better, you have to take a closer look at the growth of the plant. There is a taproot in the ground that can grow up to one meter long. On the surface, the root turns into a kind of rosette on which the herbaceous leaves sit. A leafless stem grows from the center of this rosette, at the top of which a bud initially forms. A bright yellow flower (buttercup) develops from this bud. This ultimately becomes the fruits or spores of the plant, which children in particular like to call dandelions.
Note:
As soon as a dandelion has formed, the right time to destroy the dandelion has been missed. Even with the slightest touch, the fruits are released and can spread through the air.
The dandelions bloom here mainly in the months of April and May. However, it can also happen that new flowers appear until autumn. If you want to get rid of Taraxacum as sustainably as possible, it is best to fight it before it blooms. This is also possible in the early phase of flowering. However, a later date is not recommended.
Measures
Eliminating Taraxacum is, as I said, not an easy undertaking. It takes time and effort to destroy it. Unfortunately, there is no universal panacea against the herb - at least not if you want to avoid the chemical weapon in the form of weed killers. The following measures are recommended:
Cutout
By far the safest and most effective method of getting rid of weeds is cutting out them. The entire plant including the taproot is removed. You use either a sturdy, sharp and long knife or a so-called weed cutter from a specialist retailer. How to do it:
- Bundle the leaves with one hand so that there is a free space underneath
- loose up the area around the center with the knife in your other hand
- Carefully pull and shake the plant to loosen the roots in the soil
- Pull plant upwards
- If the root cannot be pulled upwards yet, loosen its surroundings further down
- then pull the entire plant out of the ground in one piece
- Dispose of the plant and do not throw it in the compost
Cutting out with a special weed cutter is much easier than with a knife. This is simply inserted into the ground near the center on the side of the plant and then the weeds are pulled out. It is important to use a engraver with a blade that is as long as possible so that you can actually remove the root.
Cut off flowers
Putting out dandelions is very laborious because every single plant in the garden has to be plucked out. It's easier to just cut off the yellow flowers at a time. Although you can't actually destroy the plant, you can significantly limit its growth and bring it to a complete standstill over time. In fact, only the flower is cut off just below its base. Standard scissors are best suited for this. However, the stem and leaves are not touched.
Home remedies
The dandelion can also be combated relatively well with some old home remedies. These are poured directly onto each individual plant. The process usually has to be repeated several times. Suitable home remedies are:
- Soap solution
- Vinegar
- Saline solution
- boiling water
Soap, vinegar and s alt should only be used very cautiously in the garden. With them there is always the risk that the soil will be massively damaged.
Prevention
The best dandelion is probably the one that doesn't grow at all. There are two main preventative measures that can prevent or at least slow down growth. Measure one relates to the lawn and consists of not doing something - namely, you should avoid scarifying. By loosening the soil, it is very easy for the seeds to settle in the soil. If you want to prevent this, you should avoid scarifying completely or limit it very much. Measure two concerns beds. Dandelions are known to be particularly harmful there. In order not to enter it in the first place, it is advisable to sieve the soil thoroughly before creating the bed or before planting and to remove all root and plant parts. Any dandelion parts that may already be present are thrown out of the bed from the start. By regular weeding and removing the smallest weeds, it can even be kept away permanently.
