Some people will tell you that the best way to get rid of dandelions is to pull them. But they often add the caveat that their special technique is the only one that works.

As your local weed control experts who have waged a war against dandelions on lawns across North America, we’re of the opinion that there is no proper way to pull dandelions, which is good news!

You don’t have to waste your time, energy, or lower back. There’s a better way.

The Argument Against Hand-Pulling Dandelions

While hand-pulling dandelions may give you some degree of short-term benefit, it will probably let you down over the long-term for the following reasons.

It’s Hard to Remove the Entire Taproot

The person explaining their hand-pulling technique will probably tell you something about how they’re sure to dig deep to get the entire taproot (the thick central root that grows down into the soil) when they dig. That’s the first issue.

Our experiences have shown us that:

• It’s incredibly hard to pull the entire taproot

• It’s nearly impossible to know if you got the whole root

• If you leave any taproot behind, you will have to repeat this task a lot sooner than you would like

This means…

It May Make Things Worse

Not only does leaving the taproot in the soil mean you’re likely going to see dandelions pop up in that same spot, but you may also see even more of them.

The act of pulling dandelions often disturbs the soil, which can trigger dormant seeds or scatter new seeds.

This would make things even worse, and it can be incredibly frustrating.

It Leaves Holes That Open the Door for Other Weeds

Hand-pulling your dandelions will leave behind unsightly holes in your lawn. And the holes left behind by mechanical weed pullers are even bigger.

Not only are these holes an eyesore, but they also allow other weeds to creep into those areas!

It Does Not Address the Cause

You need to ask why dandelions were able to spread in your yard. In a lot of cases, there is a larger cause, like:

• Bare patches or weakened turf

• Incorrect mowing, watering, or fertilizing habits

• Compacted soil

Until you address the root cause, you’ll find yourself constantly battling them.

The Verdict

As you can see from all the downsides we’ve listed above, pulling is not an effective way to get results.

It's also time-consuming, labor-intensive, and back-breaking. So our advice would be to save the trowel for gardening and fight dandelions another way.

How To Get Rid Of Dandelions​ the Right Way

People always ask us, “How do I kill these dandelions?” It’s not about killing them. It’s about controlling them by resolving the conditions that left your yard susceptible to them in the first place.

As we mentioned, identifying the cause is crucial. Dandelions can be caused by a number of factors that include:

• Mowing your lawn too short

• Watering your lawn too much or too little

• Fertilizing the wrong way, or with the wrong products

• Compacted soil

• Weakened turf

• Thin grass or bare patches

• Nutrient deficiency in your soil

You need to know what you’re working with before you start the work.

What Kills Dandelions But Not Grass?

Now, you may be asking, “If hand-pulling is out, what is the best weed killer spray I can buy?”

Again, it’s helpful to shift your mindset from killing the weeds to controlling them. When you do that, you start to realize the answer to your dandelion problem doesn’t come in a point-and-shoot bottle.

When it comes to over-the-counter “weed killer” sprays from the hardware store, it’s very easy to damage the healthy turf around the dandelions when you spray. Also, you’re not treating the conditions that invited dandelions into your yard in the first place, so they will be back.

Dandelions are intrusive and opportunistic, which means they will pop up in spaces where your grass is weakest and thinnest. The best way to kill dandelions is a one-two punch combo of professional weed control combined with a thick and healthy lawn.

But thick and healthy turf takes a lot of work, right? Not really, way less than you think. It’s not about investing time or money. It’s about doing the right things instead of the wrong things.

This includes:

• Focusing on watering your lawn at the right time and not over/underdoing it

• Making sure you fertilize your lawn the right way and use the right products

• Not cutting your lawn too short and mowing to the perfect height to protect it

• Considering things like aerating your lawn or possibly overseeding to take things to the next level

When you really lock in on these beneficial cultural practices, you will prevent dandelions from ever showing up in the first place.

How Does Weed Man Fight Dandelions?

We don’t simply kill weeds; we control them. We have the professional experience and local expertise that can help you get rid of the dandelions you see today, but more importantly, we coach you on the simple tactics that will help you keep them away tomorrow.

“We are quite pleased with the fertilizing, weed control and aeration services the Weed Man is doing on our lawn. The workers are extremely polite and professional, and a welcome resource for lawn-care information. We would definitely recommend them.” - A 5-Star Google Review.

Don’t wait for dandelions to take over! Start today and get a free lawn care quote right now!