Is your yard having a love affair with dandelions? We know it doesn’t take long for one or two of those pesky buggers to turn into a plague.
Unfortunately, dandelions thrive in our North Texas climate and if left unchecked, can spread rapidly.
In this article, we’ll share everything that you should know about dandelions and how to make your yard less susceptible to them. As with all weeds, there is no 100-percent foolproof method to prevent dandelions in Texas but there are definitely some things that will help.
Jump to:
The word dandelion roughly translates to “lion’s tooth” and they get their name from their tooth-like leaf serrations. But it's the bright yellow flowers that this spring lawn weed is known for.
In fact, most homeowners can easily identify and are very familiar with this weed as they tend to stand out in the lawn. Nothing frustrates homeowners more than seeing a healthy green lawn begin to be scattered with yellow flowers popping up. Unfortunately, as soon as the weather starts to heat up, dandelions also start to show up.
The dandelion is a broadleaf weed, which as a category, can be identified by their broader leaves (as compared to slender, grassy weeds). It is definitely one of the most common North Texas lawn weeds.
Our hot climate is the primary reason why dandelions thrive in Texas. Dandelions fully embrace the heat!
They also don’t need a lot of water and can grow fine, even with limited rainfall. Their resilience allows them to survive and thrive, even when conditions are challenging for healthy grass to grow.
Dandelions also happen to be prolific seeders, and can spread via the wind. This allows them to colonize new areas rapidly.
The dandelion’s deep taproot makes them particularly difficult to control. The taproot can extend down into the soil 18 inches or further. When hand-pulled, much is often left behind, making it a fruitless effort.
Dandelions are frustrating and you might be tempted to take matters into your own hands. But DIY dandelion control is often unsuccessful.
We’ll cover the most common mistakes homeowners make when attempting to control this weed.
One of the biggest mistakes that homeowners make with dandelion control is failing to remove the entire taproot, as discussed above.
Because the taproot can grow so deep, it can be very challenging to remove entirely. If even a small piece is left behind, the entire plant can regenerate. This can make hand-pulling this weed almost impossible. Dandelions do need to be dug out deeply in order to be removed this way.
Mowing off the flowers of the dandelions is a very temporary solution. Just like hand-pulling leaves behind the taproot, mowing down dandelions only removes what you can see at the surface. But dandelion roots grow very deep and much will be left behind.
A quick Internet search brings up plenty of potions and concoctions to tackle dandelions.
But often, these can do more harm than good. A common one is to spray vinegar. While this might kill the weed, it will also kill your surrounding grass. It will also not kill the deep root.
The same goes for boiling water. It’s unlikely to kill the dandelion root. Plus, it could harm your surrounding grass.
The best approach to tackling weeds like dandelions is an aggressive lawn care plan that includes selective, liquid broadleaf weed control. Some weeds are going to be easier to control than others but with a customized plan developed for your property, you’ll start to see success.
Fortunately, dandelions are one of the weeds that are relatively easy to control with broadleaf weed control products. It’s just the fact that they are going to keep coming back that makes them a bit difficult.
The reason that broadleaf control products are effective on weeds like dandelions that have deep root systems is that they are “systemic.” This means the product is absorbed by the leaves and then translocates through the entire weed, even down to the roots, killing the plant as a whole.
Dandelions are a persistent weed that will keep returning from remaining seeds, so it’s important to keep up with control efforts.
While there is no surefire way to completely prevent dandelions in Texas, good lawn care habits that are focused on growing thick and healthy grass will start to naturally choke weeds (like dandelions) out.
Our best dandelion prevention tips are focused on promoting a strong and healthy lawn where weeds are going to struggle to compete with healthy turf. Limiting bare spots, where weeds tend to creep in can make a big difference.
Fertilization helps stoke healthy turf growth, and proper mowing and watering will promote a vital, strong lawn that does a better job standing up against pesky weeds. Be sure to follow proper mowing recommendations as mowing the lawn too short is a common way to stress the lawn and experience weed pressure.
Of course, making sure that you are investing in a robust weed control program will also be essential to reduce dandelions in the lawn. Even with a thick and healthy lawn, you’re going to need effective weed control products to help keep weeds out.
And it’s important to remember that the dandelion is just one of many different North Texas lawn weeds that are going to creep in. Our climate and conditions are conducive to weed problems in general.
Success with weed control boils down to partnering with a lawn care pro, which we’ll talk about next.
Lawn weeds seem to never stop growing in North Texas, and controlling them requires knowledge of exactly what type of weed is encroaching on your lawn so the right product can be applied at the right time.
It’s frustrating when you spend time, energy and resources trying to fight weeds yourself, or when you put trust into a pro to do the job and don’t get the results you want. Weeds truly are a pain. That’s why it’s critical to partner with the right lawn care company for the job.
Be sure to choose a company that is going to create a customized plan for your property and the weeds that plague your lawn. Every lawn is different.
Success with weed control requires a varied approach that is part of a customized plan, developed for your specific property. You want to be confident that you’re hiring a lawn care company that is switching up their products and using specialized controls as needed. While dandelions are relatively easy to control with broadleaf products, there are going to be some weeds that need those specialized controls.
Ultimately, it comes down to finding a company that has your best interest at heart.
By choosing a company like this, you can put those “weed worries” out of your mind and feel confident that the weeds aren’t going to win. The solution to a healthier lawn is out there and by choosing the right company, you can win the battle.
Don’t let weeds get the best of your lawn at your Flower Mound, Highland Village, or Lewisville, TX home. Get a free quote and get ready to enjoy the best lawn on the block!
