Dandelion / RHS Gardening (2024)

FAQs

Who should avoid taking dandelion? ›

In some people, dandelion can cause increased stomach acid and heartburn. It may also irritate the skin. People with kidney problems, gallbladder problems, or gallstones should consult their doctors before eating dandelion.

Should you actually want to grow dandelion intentionally, sow the seeds on the soil surface or slightly covered from early spring (4-6 weeks before last frost) through late summer. They should germinate in ten days at 55ºF. Space the plants six to nine inches apart in rows twelve inches apart.

Dandelions are good for your lawn. Their wide-spreading roots loosen hard-packed soil, aerate the earth and help reduce erosion. The deep taproot pulls nutrients such as calcium from deep in the soil and makes them available to other plants.

MSM Turf Herbicide is a broad spectrum, selective post-emergent herbicide. This weed killer is a selective herbicide, so it is labeled to use on many different turf types to target broadleaf weeds, like dandelions, and some grassy weeds without harming the grass around them.

Dandelion could increase the risk of complications for someone who has kidney disease, in particular. Because the potassium in dandelion may impact blood flow and clotting, it's best to avoid dandelion tea if you're taking blood-thinner medication..

Avoid using dandelion together with other herbal/health supplements that can also affect blood-clotting. This includes angelica (dong quai), capsicum, clove, danshen, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, horse chestnut, panax ginseng, poplar, red clover, saw palmetto, turmeric, and willow.

Dandelion is a perennial that grows best in moist areas in full sun; how- ever, it can survive some shade and dry conditions once established (Fig. 1). Dandelion grows year round in California except in the coldest inter- mountain areas where it is dormant during the winter.

Does Mowing Dandelions Spread them? Mowing dandelions does not contribute to the spread of them, but it also does not stop the spread. To stop the spread of dandelions, you must reduce seed spreading by collecting the dandelion seed heads into a bag and taken out of your yard.

Dandelions are perennial weeds (they come back each year) with fleshy taproots. Typically, the taproot is 6 to 18 inches long, but on older plants, it can extend even deeper into soil.

Here are a few ways to deal with dandelions in your yard: Let them grow and die off naturally. This is very beneficial to your soil. To keep them tidy and more garden-like, cut their leaves back on a monthly basis and lay the trimmed leaves on top of the soil to decompose.

Why are dandelions undesirable? ›

It is widely recognized as a weed, a word that generally means that it is an undesirable plant (more details in Chapter 29), undesirable because it grows in places where people are trying to grow something else (e.g. in lawns or in crop fields), and, at least to some people, undesirable because of its looks — perhaps ...

Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) generally indicate poor soil that is low in calcium, as well as compacted. The dandelions' taproots, however, are doing the job of breaking up the soil! Look into aerating your soil so it's not compacted.

Two things can kill dandelions permanently—digging them up by the roots or spraying them with an herbicide. Digging up dandelions does not harm nearby plants, but it only works if you remove the entire taproot. Otherwise, the plant will eventually spring up and blossom again.

Household vinegar is not strong enough to kill dandelions. Household vinegar is only 5% acetic acid. Horticultural vinegar which is used to kill weeds is 20% acetic acid. That's a very strong acid and can cause significant injury to you.

Even the best cared for lawns will have an occasional dandelion. They are difficult to completely eliminate, and the entire plant (root and all) of the dandelion needs to be removed or they can grow right back.

Dandelion leaves are also believed to have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system due to their high potassium content (397 mg potassium/100 g) [19,23]; indeed, increased potassium intake with food (about 3500 mg/day for an adult) has been found to lower blood pressure [23].

Moreover, a 2017 study found that a carbohydrate present in dandelions called polysaccharides may indeed help protect the liver against disease and support overall liver function.

Dandelions are edible and nontoxic for dogs; however, some parts of the plant are more nutritious than others. Here are three of the most nutrient-dense parts of dandelions: Blooms: Dogs can consume the yellow flowers or seed puffs of dandelions. Dandelion blooms contain high levels of antioxidants and polyphenols.

Chipping, field, house, song and white-throated sparrows, American goldfinches, and indigo buntings are but a few of the many songbirds that devour dandelion seeds. Dandelions also show up in the diets of bobwhite quail, wild turkeys, ruffed grouse, rabbits, white-tailed deer and eastern chipmunks.

Tall grass will both choke out weeds and keep the sun off of dandelion seeds, which will also keep the soil cool.

Why you shouldn't spray dandelions? ›

Bumble bees, beetles, birds, butterflies and a host of other beneficial insects all look to the dandelion as a source of nourishment in early spring. And when those dandelions are sprayed with chemicals, it can have serious and fatal consequences to their health and well-being.

Individual plants may survive for 10 to 13 years in undisturbed sites. Dandelion seeds can form a relatively persistent seedbank. Seed in soil has a half-life of 3 months. If buried, a few seeds may still remain viable at the end of 5 years.

Dandelions like moist soil, so you should water them regularly to keep them hydrated. Make sure that the top two inches of the soil are dry before each round of watering.

“The flowers are an important food source for pollinators — especially bees,” he noted. Dandelions provide both pollen and nectar. By late May, more flowering plants are available as food sources for bees and other insects, so dandelions become less important for their diet.

Once the lawn is cut two or three weeks later, the dandelions will return with more nectar and pollen.

It does seem that way sometimes, but the short answer is no. Picking flowers reduces the amount of seeds that are produced, which means fewer new dandelion plants will sprout.

Pulling off flower heads, known to gardeners as deadheading, can encourage more shoots and buds, as it directs the plant's resources from the developing flower and back to the infrastructure.

If you choose to leave dandelions alone, they will naturally aerate it with their taproot, breaking up hard clay and redistributing nutrients. Aerated soil is attractive to worms and other insects, which can benefit the overall health of your lawn by further distributing nutrients.

And one fascinating idea holds that nyctinasty is a highly evolved defense mechanism against a plant's nocturnal predators. By closing up tight, the flowers in your garden create a clearer view of the ground for nighttime hunters, like owls, who kill off flower-munching herbivores out looking for a midnight snack.

Dig 'em Out

Removing the dandelion's entire tap root is essential! If you remove just the dandelion flower and plant from the surface of the soil a new plant will grow. Even removing a couple inches of root won't kill it. Dandelions can easily reproduce from the remaining root.

What do dandelions mean about soil? ›

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) indicates that the soil is low in calcium but high in potassium.

While the presence of dandelions in a garden or landscape may help to deter some types of pests, it is unlikely to have any effect on mosquitoes.

Every part of the dandelion is edible: the flower, roots, stems, and leaves. Dandelion greens slightly resemble arugula, though longer, and have a similar spicy and bitter taste. You can harvest the blooms and leaves to make salads and sautéed dishes and use the roots to make tea.

Technically, dandelions are an invasive species. However, they have been in America so long that it might not be considered invasive anymore. Dandelions were brought over from Europe to be used as medicine in the American colonies. In addition, dandelions do not really pose a threat to any native plant or animal.

Common dandelions will push out grass and other plants, as well as sapping water and nutrients away from surrounding plants.

A "first food" for bees, the dandelion is also nitrogen-fixing, "which means it adds nitrogen back into the soil," great for the lawn. These small, sunny flowers, scorned by many keepers of the East End's rambling stretches of unbroken green lawn, are looked down upon as weeds — but at what cost?

Most gardener's consider them weeds, but dandelions provide pollen for insects when other flowers are not in bloom and both their leaves and flowers have culinary uses. URBANA, Ill. — To a child, a dandelion is a magical thing. It's one of the first plants we learn to recognize.

Use chemicals only as needed to kill dandelions. These chemicals typically contain three herbicides called 2,4-D, mecoprop, and dicamba. They're powerful enough to kill shrubs and nearby trees. They're most effective in the fall to permanently eradicate dandelions in your lawn.

Selective weedkillers in lawns:

Lawn weedkillers based on mecoprop-P may check the growth of dandelions but not completely kill them. Apply lawn weedkillers in summer after cutting off the flowering heads to prevent seeding, then re-spray leaves that re-grow 14 days after cutting back.

A weak solution of vinegar and water is an effective weed killer. The acid in the vinegar acts as a contact herbicide that kills the plants but does not persist in the soil or cause water or other pollution. You may need to do this repeatedly, or heat the vinegar for added effectiveness.

Is vinegar as good as Roundup? ›

The acetic acid in even household vinegar was MORE toxic than Roundup! Going one step further, in this case a comparison of rate of application is a moot point. A 1% solution of glyphosate will kill most any annual weed listed on the label, and also the majority of perennial weeds.

The quickest and least labor-intensive method of getting rid of dandelions is to spray them with a broadleaf herbicide that will kill the entire plant, not just the leaves, without harming the surrounding grass.

Vinegar can effectively kill dandelions if done correctly, but if the plants are very well established they might survive from their roots. Spray vinegar directly onto the weed for about three seconds, so that is thoroughly covered.

Broadleaf herbicides are only effective against broadleaf weeds, such as dandelions. They are good for getting rid of dandelions in lawns because they only kill the weeds and not the grass. There is also the option of using a non-selective herbicide, which is also effective against dandelion.

Dandelion, as well as clover, thistle and ground ivy, are broadleaf (non-grassy) weeds. The most effective broadleaf-killing herbicides for lawns are Trimec formulations. These products consist of a combination of three herbicides (2,4-D, mecoprop and dicamba).

Dandelion is considered safe for most people. However, some people may have an allergic reaction from touching or ingesting dandelion. Dandelion has also been found to interact with certain medications, including diuretics, lithium, and Cipro.

If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use dandelion preparations without first talking to your health care provider: Lithium -- Animal studies suggest that dandelion may worsen the side effects associated with lithium, a medication used to treat bipolar disorder.

Dandelion leaves are also believed to have a positive effect on the cardiovascular system due to their high potassium content (397 mg potassium/100 g) [19,23]; indeed, increased potassium intake with food (about 3500 mg/day for an adult) has been found to lower blood pressure [23].

May reduce cholesterol and triglyceride levels

Some compounds in dandelion may decrease triglyceride and cholesterol levels, both of which are key risk factors for heart disease. In one test-tube study, dandelion leaf and root extract decreased triglyceride accumulation in fat cells ( 10 ).

Dandelion tea has been used to promote liver function in holistic medicine for centuries, Kim says. Preliminary studies show this may be due to dandelion's ability to increase the flow of bile, which helps detox the liver and relieve symptoms of liver disease, Kim says.

What happens to your body when you drink dandelion tea? ›

Dandelion tea is high in vitamin A and vitamin C, both of which boost the immune system and encourages healthy cell growth. It also helps our eyesight and reduces the signs of premature aging. Dandelions are also brightened with vitamin K which helps bone health and is essential to blood clotting.

“Dandelion tea contains an enzyme—a chemical compound that can eliminate certain bacteria such as E.coli, which is the most common cause of urinary tract infections,” she says. “It also acts as a diuretic, which helps liver and kidney flush out the body.”

Dandelion has a diuretic effect, due to which unwanted fluid is eliminated from the body. This helps to reduce blood volume, which reduces the load on the heart. Due to this property, dandelion lowers blood pressure, therefore, decoctions and infusions based on it are recommended for use in hypertension.

Dandelions extracts elicit their effects via various mechanisms, due to the presence of different classes of constituents with known anti-inflammatory effects.

Dandelion Root

Not only does it metabolize this important hormone, but it also helps eliminate it, whether the estrogen is from natural sources or from artificial sources such as hormone-replacement therapy, plastics, or plants.

Dandelion root might slow blood clotting. Taking dandelion root along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

In traditional herbal medicine, dandelion root is considered a 'blood cleanser' that works primarily through the liver and gall bladder. It stimulates bile production in the liver, and encourages the gall bladder to contract and release stored bile.

Dandelion has strong diuretic and detoxifying actions, making it a great herb for cleansing toxins out of the body. It helps to detox the liver, gallbladder, kidneys and blood, and also regulate bowel motions.

Dandelions contain bioactive compounds that may help lower a person's cholesterol. Research conducted in vivo and in vitro has shown that dandelion may be able to help reduce blood lipids. This can include lipids, including cholesterol and triglycerides.

Interestingly, a Korean study found that dandelion may have similar effects on the body as weight loss drug Orlistat. Some data shows that this anti-obesity drug can help reduce the amount of belly fat, the most dangerous fat linked to Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, some forms of cancer, etc.

Can dandelions strengthen your heart? ›

Lower cholesterol

Lowering cholesterol is a key step to reducing the risk of heart disease. Studies in animals have found that extracts from dandelion roots and leaves can naturally lower cholesterol levels.