1 day Ago By Angela Patrone
Dandelions, while adding a splash of colour to gardens and sometimes enjoyed as wildflowers, can pose a threat to the health of other plants if they’re not managed properly. These vibrant yellow blooms have a tendency to hog nutrients from nearby plants, especially on lawns , where they spread at an astonishing rate, and their stubborn deep roots ensure they bounce back even after being cut. Genevieve Schmidt, a landscaper and the brains behind North Coast Gardening has shared her unique “injection” tactic for dandelion removal that won’t wreak havoc on your turf.
She explained: “I just got a nifty tip on how to kill dandelions organically when they are growing in your lawn or the centre of another plant: injection with vinegar -based organic weed killer.” Although vinegar is hailed for its weed-killing abilities, it generally gets the thumbs down from gardeners since it can harm surrounding plants, and its use on lawns poses a risk to the grass itself. Genevieve noted: “You may have found that if you spray non-selective herbicide, organic or otherwise, on your dandelion, you end up with a dead patch of lawn to match your dead dandelion, which is so not cool.
” She added that while wrestling out the lengthy taproot with a soil knife is an option, it’s often a repetitive task because any leftover root fragments result in the return of dandelions. Genevieve suggests a unique approach to tackling dandelions without harming the surrounding grass by using a small syringe to inject them directly. She explained: “The whole injection-by-hand thing may sound like a pain, but if your dandelions have really good taproots and keep coming back, I’d think 20 seconds per weed is well worth it being gone forever.
” The technique involves injecting the dandelion at its core, where the leaves originate. Within two weeks, the roots should dehydrate and die, allowing for easy removal of the entire plant. Genevieve said: “After a couple of weeks, you can lift the top of the dandelion right off of the poor, pickled taproot.
” For this method, household white vinegar is recommended by Genevieve. This injection strategy ensures a well-maintained lawn throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions. Genevieve further mentioned: “Another cool thing to note is that while spraying herbicide (any kind) is only effective on dry days with temperatures above 15 degrees, injections of herbicide can be done in the dead of winter with the rain pouring down.
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