Dandelions & Crabgrass Wreaking Havoc on Your Yard?

Dandelions are everywhere

The beauty of spring changes everything—joggers in the park; blossoms in the trees;  flowers in the garden and dandelions and crabgrass in the yard. Dandelions? Crabgrass? I thought Pre-emergent took care of this stuff. Let’s dispel some myths about weed control and learn some Post-emergent solutions.

Pre-Emergent

Pre-emergent forms a barrier in the top layer of the soil surface to control weed growth. This herbicide blocks enzymes in seeds to alter germination and prevent weeds like crabgrass from breaking the surface of your lawn. Spring lawn applications bind pre-emergent and fertilizer to chemically enhance your lawn’s appearance. The results often look great, but don’t always enhance the health of your lawn and may fatigue the weak areas. Consider some of the shortcomings of using pre-emergent herbicide (learn more).

The Reallity

This year dandelios seem especially prevalent. If you struggle with crabgrass, bare patches or other weeds, consider that the best defense against weeds is a healthy lawn. Try some of these natural post-emergent cures before resorting to costly herbicides.

• Mow you lawn high and mow frequently. Taller plants have deeper roots. Finely mulched clippings fertilize your lawn and protect against thatch.
• Crabgrass is a warm season grass. It thrives in hot, sunny areas along pavement and asphalt. It also grows well in thin turf. Weed these spots by hand.
• Chemical treatments are most effective on compact, undisturbed areas. Animal burrows (ground squirrels, moles, etc.), tilled gardens and mulch beds create weak points where weeds thrive. Landscape fabric shields beds and raised gardens from weed invasion.
• Relieve soil compaction. Highly trafficked areas like dog runs and walkways often become tightly compacted.
• Add seed to weak areas. After hand weeding, relieving compaction and repair disturbed areas, simply rake some seed into the soil. Most lawns are made up of cool season grasses—ryes, fescues and Kentucky bluegrass. Kentucky bluegrass forms an incredibly durable sod that defends against weeds. Blending in other species for each area of your lawn will strengthen the entire network. Here’s the complete article I wrote about seeding (learn more). 
• Finally, on the subject of dandelions. Dandelion roots may go as 6 feet deep. So, digging up the plant is not ideal. As soon as the flower appears, mow your lawn. This doesn’t kill the plant but prevents the spread of spores. This doesn’t help if your neighbors don’t do the same, so the best solution may be the tastiest (learn more).