Dandelions: Lawn Terrorists

Few events incur the wrath of suburban homeowners more than the appearance of dandelions in their lawns. Remember that TV commercial where two men in front of their yard facing off as gunslingers with herbicide spray in their holsters? This passionate response drives the multi billion dollar residential herbicide market in the US. "Homeowners apply up to 10 times more chemicals per acre than farmers do." Organic Gardening

That in itself is great for the economy and gives suburban men a sense of mission and purpose, to kill off the lawn terrorists. However there is the often ignored or hidden dark side, consequences, a price to pay for the preternatural lawns. It has been proven in studies that chemical herbicides are just plain dangerous and adequate information and warnings are not offered by the industry. That should not be a surprise since it took a federal law to force car manufacturers to install seatbelts and now everyone including the bravest of the brave will buckle up instinctively. With that in mind there is no reason to take personal and environmental risks that border on lunacy for the sake of looking good, even if the industry says not to worry. There are several safe routes to take, if the yellow dandelions make one see red.

The best way to get rid of dandelions is to just dig them up. There are tools shaped like oversized screwdrivers with a fishtail shaped tip that work well. A dose of distilled vinegar is effective at a small fraction of the cost of chemicals. Mowing always works well especially when performed at the right height which is about three inches. Mowing less or too close to the ground has the opposite effect. Little known is the natural weed and feed product developed and patented by agronomists from Iowa State University, corn meal gluten. It works by inhibiting root development and aborting dandelion seed germination at the same time feeding grass with nitrogen that the gluten contains.

For good results, all of the alternatives should be performed, dig some up, squirt some with vinegar, mow frequently and lay the gluten down to control the dreaded dandelion infestation. Control should be the key, total eradication being unrealistic unless all the neighbors are chemical gunslingers, a frightening thought, besides who would want to deny kids the joy of blowing on a fluffy dandelion seed ball in the summer.