How to remove weeds and moss from lawns
What many gardeners may not know is that dandelions can bring benefits to garden soil. The root helps bring nutrients to the soil surface. This increases the soil’s nitrogen levels, which helps turn grass green.
While offering benefits, too many dandelions in a lawn will steal the water and nutrients grass needs to thrive.
With over 20 years of experience in the gardening and home improvement industry, John Antill co-founder of Brightchecker, has shared how to go about getting rid of these pesky lawn weeds.
The expert claimed that the “simplest way to get rid of dandelions without chemicals” is to pull them out by hand.
He instructed: “Grab a dandelion weeder or a small garden tool and make sure you remove the entire dandelion, including its long taproot. The goal is to get the whole thing out so it can’t grow back.”
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Be careful to remove the entire taproot and re-dig if new shoots appear nearby, which could be offshoots of the original plants.
Before gardeners start pulling at the weed, give the lawn a good watering to moisten the soil.
This is important as it helps loosen the dandelion’s roots, making them easier to remove.
Along with manual removal, John claimed that it is best to tackle dandelions when they’re young and haven’t established deep roots.
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He explained that spring and autumn are “great times to do this” because the soil is usually moist, which makes it “easier to pull the dandelions out completely”.
When gardeners are ready to pull a dandelion out, they need to position their weeding tool close to the base of the plant.
John instructed: “Angle it slightly to avoid snapping the taproot. Push the tool deep into the soil, then gently rock it back and forth to loosen the root system.
“Finally, lift the dandelion and its taproot out of the ground. Remember to dispose of the dandelions properly to prevent them from reseeding.”
To keep dandelions from growing again in increased numbers, it’s important to maintain a healthy, thick lawn.
Regularly mowing, watering, and fertilising the grass helps it grow densely, making it “harder for dandelion seeds to take hold and grow”.
If gardeners start to notice bare patches in their lawns, consider overseeding those areas.
By sowing grass seeds, this promotes the growth of healthy turf, reducing the space available for dandelions to sprout.
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