A lot of people think that dandelions are just pretty yellow flowers. Kids like to make flower bouquets with them and blow at them when they puff up and begin to seed. Some people even like to eat them. In reality they can over take your yard. They are the most common perennial, broadleaf weed. They are found throughout the United States. They can begin to grow as early as April.
They are very distinctive looking. The leaves are a dark green color. They have yellow flowers that grow on long stems called tap roots. The taproots can dig up to one foot into the soil. Taproots are enlarged, somewhat straight plant roots that grow vertically downward. They form a center from which other roots will sprout laterally.
Watchout, those pretty yellow flowers turn white and become puffy when they are ready to release their seeds. If you don't take care of the problem before this happens, your neighbors may not be too happy with you.
As soon as you see a few plants you should act quick. You want to rid your yard of these weeds before they begin to seed. There are a few methods used to eliminate these pesky unwanted visitors.....
Return from dandelions to lawn weeds
Follow the tips outlined above and you can eliminate your weed problem. As you can see proper lawn care is the key to wiping out these weeds.
Did you know that the nutritional value of dandelion leaves is very high? This was a staple in Granny's house on the Beverly Hillbillies. They are low calorie and full of nutrients. They are rich in iron, Vitamin A, Vitamin C and calcium. They also contain lutein which is an antioxident that is good for your vision.
You can eat the leaves raw in your salad, steam them or saute them. I do strongly suggest that you buy the organic variety from your local grocery store though so you can make sure they were not sprayed with any chemicals (weed killer, pesticides, etc.).
Dandelion Plant
Dandelions
Dandelion that is seeding
Dandelion Fork - used to remove dandelions
Weed & Feed that kills dandelions while feeding your grass.