Dandilions #%*!!#. Any Ideas?

[finspat]

Ok I been trying to limit the growth or these

pesky weeds, I have been using WEED & FEED , I spray

a dandilion killer but is "safe for lawns"

Geesh, I need to go fishing and rest my mind on the water.

Any info would be greatly appriciated

Fins

[sparkyaber]

there is a herbicide that is called Trimec or Triamec, my bottle's wrapper came off so I don't have the name, but any way, it is the best broadleaf controller that I have found that you do not need an applicator licence to purchace. I only have a few dandilions a a little creeping charlie, so I spot spray. Little trick I learned is when you are mowing your lawn it is easy to see all of the weeds, but after the lawn is shorter it is hard to remember where those pesky suckers are. I just started carrying marker flags with my lawn mower and mark the weeds as I go over them. Return when I am done mowing with the hand sprayer, no more weeds!

You sound like you have a larger problem- You need a pull behind sprayer. Just remember- If you have a lot of dandy's

and you kill them all, you will have a brown yard until the grass grows back in. One last thing, trimec kills only broadleaves- no grasses(unless you put way to much on, like triple the recommended mixing amount). My memory let me down, and I know from experience. But it will kill trees and shrubs if put to close and applied heavily.

I think you can get it at Fleet Farm.

Good luck.

[harvey lee]

2-4-d mecomen,(spelling)that will kill all your dandys and alot of other weeds.You can buy it at any fertilizer plant and spray it yourself.If I remember correctly you will mix 4oz to a gallon of water.It will take a few days and those little flowers will tip over.I have never applied it and had it not work.I'm thinking a gallon will set you back 30.00 and it will last for years.Just dont let it freeze.

Try to spray it when its not dry and the weeds are growing and due it during the morning.They WILL die.

This also is a broadleaf killer and wont kill your grass unless you mix to strong.Whatever chemical you use make sure to follow thier recomendations and you will be fine.

I would guess that this chemical is the best dandy killer and most used around.

[FISHINGFARMER]

Fins:

Harvey Lee's suggestion of using 2-4-d for dandilions is right on! It's a very easy herbicide to use and safe to handle compared to others and the least expensive of any of them. Kills not only dadilions, but many type of broadleaves that may be in your yard with no injury to the grass.

Simple to apply with just a hand sprayer or a small tank you can mount on a cart or a 4-wheeler.No special nozzel jets are required, spray it when the grass or lawn is dry from rain or dew thou and the wind is light to prevent drifting of spray.

Any farm fertilizer plant or some farm stores should carry it.

Just remember to not let kids or fido walk around on it for atleast 24 hours thou.

Farmer

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Haven't you heard of dandilion wine!

Cliff

[LABS4ME]

My vote is Trimec... 2-4-D is actually a hormone that causes a plant to grow so fast it's vascular bundles actually rupture. When it gets from your lawn to a lake it really causes havoc. I know of several aqautic improvement projects that have been suspended indefinitley because of 2-4-D contamination in the lake bed. Mix the trimec according to the label (never mix stronger than recommended ratio, it will a lot of times diminish the effectiveness of the chemical). You may have to spray the entire lawn once to get a head of the weeds and then spot spray.

One of the best ways to spot treat is with a small brush and round-up. Carefully apply to the plant (this is a non-selective herbicide and will kill or damage anyplant it comes in contact with) while being careful to avoid any contact with other plants or grass... DO NOT SPRAY!

Weed and feeds are probably the least effective way to control weeds... especially if they are prolific. If you are using a weed and feed product, make sure you apply to the lawn when there is dew on the grass so the granules will stick to the weed leaf and the weed control rehydrates and absorbs into the weed plant.

Sometimes to get ahead it's easiest to hire a professional to come in and do it for you. Most reputable companies will stand by there work and guarantee their products effectiveness.

It's funny, the dandelion was brought to this country by the pilgrims for it's versatility and good looks. It was used to hold down soils around the houses, provide graze for the animals and food for people. Now it is the scourge of the neigborhood and we measure our worthiness as a neighbor on how few we have in our lawns. I have over the years done less and less to control them... I don't have a major problem, but I don't worry about a few in the lawn. I would say I use a chemical once every 2-3 years at most now and still a "decent" yard with only a few "weeds"...

Good Luck!

Ken

[JohnMickish]

If you think dandilions are bad, just wait till leafy spurge makes it to town!

[harvey lee]

mnfishingguy

There is a good chemical for leafy spurge to.We spray it for spurge in North Dakota every year.It is one tough weed.

Your other option is to get some goats as they will eat the dickens out of it.

[efgh]

Those young dandilion green taste pretty good wilted in bacon grease, maybe you could start a business selling them. the chemicals the other guys suggested all work real well, but you should keep kids and pets off the grass for 24-48 hrs.

[bigdog]

I use Ortho "weed be gone", or what ever is on sale, and mix it in a 2-3 gallon hand sprayer. One thing that will help is to add a tablespoon or so of liquid detergent (tide or whatever). The detergent helps to wet the leaves better. Once I started adding detergent my success improved greatly.

[shouldbefishn]

Trimec actually is a mixture of 2-4d and a very small amount of dicamba(Banvel for those farmers out there). It is a weak solution of both, targeted for the home user. It is an excellent product for Dandelions although I would recomend hitting them with it twice about 2 weeks apart. The best time to kill Dandelions is in the fall ideally after the first light frost. They are uptaking nutrients into the root system for the winter and are easier to kill. Plus you do not need to worry about any non target plants in the fall.

[finspat]

Thanks for all your information!

I will try the trimec stuff, now just to be safe

my lawn will not go brown on me?

My grass will be ok.

Thanks a bunch

Fins

[MNmikew]

Theres a product out there called Weed-out that contains Trimec. Also Menards brand of weed n feed contains Trimec.

Dandilions? Spurge? That's nothin. The true devils weed is wild violets.

[Scoot]

As previously mentioned, spray some 2-4-d. It'll take care of your problem- no sweat!

[finspat]

Ok I went to fleet farm got this product

Called, Speed Zone a Trimec product,

with 2-4-D. mix 2 tablespoons to a gallon.

Like to know when is a good time to apply it.

I am kinda leery of using this product and ending up with brown spots all over my yard. I saw this happen to someone

and it was ugly!

Again thanks a bunch

Fins

[JohnMickish]

If mixed right and applied right there will be no problems. It all comes down to the reading of the directions.

[DTro]

Quote:

---

Haven't you heard of dandilion wine!

Cliff

---

lol, my dad tried making that once.......

peeyou

[tunrevir]

The dandies aren't about to go away if everyone around you has them. You can spray, fertilize ect: but unless you can get your neighbors on board then there will always be yellow tops. I always used the weed be gone by ortho. It works good on dandies and clover and a bunch of other broadleaf weeds. Mix it per directions and you can spray the whole lawn or y0u can spot spray. I usually did the once over then hit the problem areas with a second coat a week later. Works great but takes a bit of persistence. The nice part about it is that it goes a long way and you can use it year round for clover ect. Just my 2 cents.

Tunrevir~

[Steve Bakken]

Just curious, what happpens if the 2-4-d does freeze. I forgot to bring mine in last fall and it doesn't seem to have the effectiveness that it did before.

[efgh]

When 2-4-d freezes the salts settle out and form on the bottom of the jug, if you read the directions on the jug, maybe yours doesn;t say it, shake the jug untill the salts on the bottom are redisolved, the 2-4-d still should be good.

[beretta]

I would go to the closest nuculear power plant and get a hold of some of their waste. all you have to do is spread it on your yard and I think it should kill them little flowers real good real fast

[Steve Bakken]

Thanks for the quick reply, efgh. I almost went to fleet farm and dropped 40 bucks on a new jug.