Easy, Natural Solution To Get Rid Of Pesky Dandelions

by The Garden Site on March 16, 2009
in Gardening

Dandelions, dandelions, dandelions everywhere! Why are they so hardy, and seem to be almost impossible to get rid of?

Here are three reasons why they are so prolific and hardy:

Dandelions reproduce their seeds without the help of pollination that many other plants require.
There are often 54 to 172 seeds per floret head, so a single plant can produce more than 2000 seeds in a single year.
They have a central taproot with leaves growing outward. These leaves then push down surrounding vegetation and kills the other plants by cutting off their access to sunlight, such as the grass on your lawn.

There are some good uses for dandelions such as using the dandelion greens in a soup or salad, making dandelion wine, and using the milky fluid from the stems as a mosquito repellent. The leaves are actually high in Vitamins A and C, iron and calcium, and have antioxidant properties.

However, most people would just like them to go away. The hardy plants seem to find a way of finding all those little crevices in our patio, steps, sidewalks, etc., as well as their deadly attacks on our lawns.

One of the simplest ways to kill these plant pests is with a liquid that most of us have in our homes. It is a natural substance made from plants, most commonly made from apples; however, there are other sources as well, such as coconuts, rice, black currants, raspberries, white grapes, tomatoes, and even beer. This acidic substance has an ancient history and is even mentioned in the Bible. It is used in many ways for culinary purposes, such as for pickling and in flavoring many dishes such as sushi rice, Chinese soup, potato chips, and many condiments and dressings.

Many people also swear by this substance for medicinal uses such as helping to lower cholesterol, a cure for hiccups, removing warts, relieving heartburn, a dandruff solution, as a home remedy for skin conditions such as eczema and sunburn, and has been known to help relieve muscle aches and pains. Veterinarians even use the substance as a mixture with hydrogen peroxide to kill certain bacteria and viruses.

What is this substance? Vinegar!

Just put some in a spray bottle and zap those dandelions that give you so much grief. You will find that in about a day they have dried up and turned brown. Be careful where you spray the vinegar, however. You may not want to use it on your lawn and garden, because it will kill the other plants that it touches as well. In addition to that, you will smell like a pickle factory, so be careful when you do the deed.