Dandelion Weeds the Good and the Bad
Dandelions are weeds when they grow in your flower beds, vegetable beds or front lawn. But, parts of the dandelion plant are also used in wine and in cooking. The dandelion flower is used to make dandelion wine and bread and the leaves are used for salad, soup, other dishes. Dandelions can also be seen as a graceful flower and used in works of art. For example, my husband made this picture of the dandelion plant after it went to seed.
Removal of unwanted dandelion plants.
The dandelion is one of the most stubborn yard and garden weeds. It spreads so easily because the wind carries its seeds everywhere. When your grass plants have deep, healthy root systems they can compete well with weeds and prevent the seeds from germinating. Deep and infrequent watering of your lawn helps grass develop strong deep roots. Water needs to soak the soil 6-8 inches deep. It's time to water when the top inch of soil is dry again. It can take a week for your soil to dry out if it is watered well enough.
Use a herbicide containing 2,4-D to control dandelions that are already present in your yard. Be careful because herbicides like Roundup will kill any plant or tree they touch. Follow directions for application because contact with herbacides can make you sick, too. If the dandelions are growing in a flower or vegetable bed, you may want to dig them out rather than use herbicide. Just be sure you get all of the root. Otherwise, the remaining root will produce a new plant. Some gardeners use a special fork-like dandelion weeder tool to loosen the dandelion from the soil.
Long Handled Dandelion Weeder
From the Manufacturer
"The Ames Long Handled Deluxe Dandelion Weeder is part of Ames' line of top-quality tools for gardeners. It has a 1-3/8-inch blade with a shape designed to help get rid of tough dandelion weeds. The 36-inch handle is made of quality hardwood for strength and durability."
Ames 1941600 Long Handled Dandelion Weeder
Amazon Price: $12.39 (as of 03/20/2010)
I have never personally used a dandelion removal tool. So, this is one of several reviews available on Amazon:
" A great Standing-up Gardening Tool
Since I cannot do much bending (I'm a Golden Oldie), this tool is great for standing-up gardening. I use it to "puncture" my very hard Tennessee clay. I had been using the short-handled variety so I am very happy with this long-handled kind. It is also useful for weeding standing up.
Published 20 months ago by Jean Victoria "
Dandelion Weeds in Flickr Photos
![j'ai deux amours (37/365) by Natalia Gustafson [Really busy lately :S]](http://static.flickr.com/2729/4440737015_2c75873c23_s.jpg)
j'ai deux amours (37...
Lantern Festival - F...
Dandelion Meets the...
Macro.. {Explored}
Summer blows away
Aloof
spring
Weeeeed seeeeds
dandelion.jpg
Only the most beauti...
Dandelion Weed Link List
- Pictures of Dandelions | Removal | Killing Dandelions
- Give the dandelion weed a gentle tug to see if the taproot is yielding. If the taproot is yielding, ... Dandelion Weeds From Other About Guides ...
- Dandelion Plants - Getting Rid of Lawn Weeds
- A fine introduction to dandelion plants, this site provides information on getting rid of dandelions. Dandelion weed control strategies discussed include ...
- the weed from hell-dandelion - Weeds Forum - GardenWeb
- I have had great success killing dandelions (and a few other tender-leafed weeds ) with plain white vinegar. I just put it in an old window-cleaner bottle ...
- Weed Gallery: Dandelion--UC IPM
- Mar 13, 2009 ... See How to manage pests, or in the U.S., contact your local Cooperative Extension office for assistance. /PMG/WEEDS/dandelion.html revised: ...
- Dandelion Weed
- Here is a giant picture of a dandelion. I wonder how this WEED survived Stephen's Lawnmower? Dandelions are very common weeds in the paddocks in this area ...
- A Dandelion Is A Weed - All About Lawns
- Dandelions herald the spring, but also trouble for your lawn.
- Seven Ways to Get Rid of Dandelions--Organically
- How to eliminate dandelions and other perennial weeds without the use of ... Dandelions are weeds, unless you're a child. I'm reminded of the story in ...
Dandelion Weed Removal Tools on eBay
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand by
Vote for your favorite garden tool available on Amazon.
Step2 5A0000 Garden Hopper Mobile Garden Stool and Storage
This year, get comfortable while planting, digging more...2 points
Fiskars 9424 Garden Bucket Caddy
The Fiskars garden bucket caddy features clever, d more...1 point
Step2 Garden Kneeler #5A0100
Keep comfortable while working in the garden or ya more...1 point
Kids Garden Tool Set
The Kids Garden Tool Set allows children to " more...1 point
Fiskars Big Grip Garden Knife #7079
The Fiskars big grip garden knife features a comfo more...0 points
Dandelion Blog Posts from Google
- Tips on Looking after your Lawn | publishedrage.com
- Now, however, it's turning brown, it has some bare spots where the kids put their pool over the summer and it died, it's peppered with dandelion weeds, poison ivy vines have started growing in the back yard, and the neighbor's dog is ...
- Diet and Herb Tips for Spring Health - East West School of ...
- Keep those dandelion "weeds!" Clean your physical house by turning your dandelion weeds into a nutritious cooked salad. These slightly bitter greens are high in iron, potassium and Vitamin A. Add a touch of lemon juice and flax oil for ...
- Kill Dandelion Weeds in Lawn Organically | North Coast Gardening
- This simple organic technique gets rid of pesky dandelions in one try, any time of year: Injection with vinegar-based weed killer. Here's how.
- Dandelion tea « Natural way to lose weight fast blog
- Dandelions are a vegetable, really they are, most people think of them as weeds, but in truth they are a vegetable just like any other leafy vegetable, spinach, chard, lettuce, dandelions are very popular in salads all over Europe ...
Dandelion plant Del.icio.us bookmarks
Dandelion Benefits
How to make dandelion salad.
Dandelion Botanicals
"Wild Countryside Herbal Supplement. Taraxacum officinale. FreshCare System. Nature's Herbs Wild Countryside Dandelion Root grows in rich fertile meadows of Europe and China. This unwelcome inhabitant of lawns is actually quite beneficial for the body."
Nature's Herbs Dandelion Root, 510 mg, Capsules, 100 capsules (Pack of 4)
Amazon Price: $35.56 (as of 03/21/2010)
Dandelion Bread
"You'll want to harvest in the morning, before the flowers have fully opened. Grasp the yellow part of the flower (the petals) and twist away from the green sepals and stem. Discard any greenery. I prefer the bread to the muffins.
2 cups unbleached flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup dandelion petals
1/4 cup canola oil
4 tbsp honey
1 egg
scant 1 1/2 cups milk
Combine dry ingredients in large bowl, including petals, and mix. Make sure to separate clumps of petals. In separate bowl mix together milk, honey, oil, and beat in egg. Add liquid ingredients to dry and stir. Batter should be fairly wet and lumpy. Pour into buttered bread tin or muffin tin. Bake at 400 degrees. A dozen muffins will take 20-25 minutes. Bread will take 25-30 or more minutes. At 25 minutes, check doneness of bread with a toothpick. If still too moist inside, lower oven temperature and continue to bake, checking every five minutes."
How to make dandelion wine.
Dandelion seeds on eBay
The Wall Street Journal reported that "for the year ending in April 2009, US supermarkets sold $2 million of dandelion greens." And "Grocery chain Wegmans Food Markets Inc. has seen a 25% increase in sales of dandelion greens for the year to date from the year-earlier period. Southern grocery chain Earth Fare Inc., based in Asheville, N.C., says it has seen a 40% increase in sales of dandelion greens for the year to date."
If you have a small plot of ground available, why not plant your own dandelion patch?
For those of you wanting MORE dandelions, here are dandelion seeds.
Fetching new data from eBay now... please stand byDandelion Wine
Dandelion wine recipes - Jack Keller Wine
Dandelion Posters on Zazzle
Thanks for visiting. Please take a moment and leave a brief note. You don't need to be a member of Squidoo.
-
Reply
- KINGRPG KINGRPG Feb 19, 2010 @ 6:29 am
- I like that you think. Thank you for share very much.
-
Reply
- OhMe OhMe Feb 2, 2010 @ 8:54 pm
- I would love to feature this great lens when I get my Dandelion lens published.
-
Reply
- kimmanleyort kimmanleyort Dec 7, 2009 @ 8:37 am
- Seems like dandelions are very, very good for you! Great lens - love your intro photo. Good luck in the contest.
-
Reply
- eccles1 eccles1 Dec 4, 2009 @ 10:27 am
- I don't spray them any more that's for sure! the spray is bad for birds too
-
Reply
- BarbRad BarbRad Dec 2, 2009 @ 3:14 am
- I have to confess I'm a great fan of weeds. Some of them are beautiful.
- Load More
