3 Step Guide For Naturally Killing Off Your Yard's Small Dandelion Population
If you are tired of seeing dandelions pop up sporadically in your yard, you may wonder if there is anything you can do to kill the plants and keep them from becoming a widespread problem. If so, use the following three-step guide for naturally killing off your yard's small dandelion population.
Step 1: Remove the Flowers
The first step in killing individual dandelion plants involves removing the flowers before they have a chance to turn into the powder-puff seed pods you may have used to make wishes when you were a kid. Not only does this help keep the seeds from spreading and sprouting elsewhere, but it makes the plants more vulnerable for the next two steps.
When you remove the flowers, their stems are opened up. Because they are hollow on the inside, the water and homemade spray used below are able to penetrate the plants from the inside.
Remove the flowers either by pinching or cutting them off close to the crown. Then, go on to the next step.
Step 2: Pour Boiling Water on the Plants
In this step, boiling water is poured on the plants to scald them. Not only does the boiling water start boiling the chlorophyll inside the plants' cells, but it also weakens the walls to make them more susceptible to damage during the next step.
After bringing enough water to douse the plants with a cup each, carefully pour the liquid directly onto the center of the plant. Then, go on to the next step.
Step 3: Spray Them with Salt and Vinegar
This next step uses a homemade weed spray made from salt and white distilled vinegar. Both of the ingredients burn the cells of the plants' leaves and are also absorbed by the roots to kill the dandelions at their bases. However, since this spray could kill any plant, make sure you are precise with apply it to the weeds.
In a plastic spray bottle, mix together two cups of vinegar and four tablespoons of table salt. Then, set the sprayer on a tight stream, and spray the plants until they are dripping.
Using the above guide can help you kill small numbers of dandelions before they have a chance to spread. However, if you find that you cannot control the weed's invasion of your lawn, speak with a professional who specializes in weed control to discuss available options for getting rid of the unsightly flowers once and for all. Visit a site like http://snydersweedcontrol.com/ for more information.
