How to Kill Dandelions in Your Lawn


Kids love to play with dandelions, but when these weed pests invade your lawn, it's no time to play. Dandelions are tough on lawns and neighbors. They move in to form large, weedy colonies—and make themselves known with bright yellow blooms and prolific seeds that float from lawn to lawn. But with these insights and effective weed controls, you can kill dandelions, reclaim your turf and keep your neighbors happy:


Pennington Full Season Weed & Feed with Crabgrass Control 25-0-8, ideal for most established northern and southern lawns, kills existing dandelions and more than 200 other broadleaf weeds and promotes thick, lush, green grass. 

These premium weed & feed products contain iron and fast-acting nitrogen to support quick, rich greening, plus slow-release nitrogen that continues to feed your lawn for up to three months. Some lawn grasses are sensitive to herbicides in weed & feed fertilizers, so always read the product label thoroughly before use and be sure it lists your grass type as approved.

For best results, apply weed & feed fertilizer in spring, once grass and weeds are up and actively growing. Dandelions and other common lawn weeds are most susceptible to treatment when still young and small. Follow-up applications in late summer and or early fall hit these weeds during a second vulnerable stage and help your lawn prepare for winter at the same time.

Never apply weed & feed products or other herbicides to dormant or stressed lawns. When planting lawn seed, wait to apply weed & feed until grass gets established and you mow it at least three times. For newly sodded areas, wait at least three weeks. Once you treat your lawn with weed & feed, wait at least three to four weeks before planting, reseeding or overseeding with new seed.



Dandelions cut at the surface spring back from buds just below ground.

How to Help Prevent Dandelions

As experienced lawn owners know, stopping dandelions is an ongoing task. Even when you eradicate the weeds in your lawn, a soft summer breeze brings more dandelion seeds in. Following good practices for lawn care can help your lawn compete against dandelions and other weeds.

Unlike allergy-provoking ragweed, which doesn't tolerate mowing well, dandelions can stay close to the ground and avoid mower blades. Even so, regular mowing at the recommended height for your grass type helps your lawn stay healthy and vigorous. Regular watering and fertilization also help keep your lawn competitive against invading weeds. Soil amendments such as lime to restore balance to soil pHor gypsum to relieve compaction enhance your soil and promote better grass and root growth.

When dandelions invade your lawn, you can take back your turf with quick action and effective controls. Pennington is here with timely, expert tips and premium lawn and garden products to help you conquer dandelions and enjoy the thick, lush, beautiful lawn you envision.

Always read product labels thoroughly and follow instructions, including guidelines for treatable grasses and application rates.

Pennington with design is a registered trademark of Pennington Seed, Inc.

UltraGreen is a registered trademark of Central Garden & Pet Company.

Sources:

1. D. Hourdajian, "Introduced Species Summary Project: Dandelion (Taraxacum Officinale)," Columbia University, November 2006.

2. Michigan State University Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences, "Dandelion," Michigan State University.

back-to-top