Killing dandelions

**cyinne** · 04-30-2011, 03:37 PM

I am having a hard time trying to get rid of the dandelions in my yard. They are not thick but I want to try to eradicate them before it begins to be a problem. Short of hiring a professional to come in and spray my entire yard or going out and digging them out by hand and leaving craters in my yard what is the best product out there to kill dandelions? I have tried the Ortho Weed-B-Gon Max and some stuff that Earl May has, but that only retards the weed for a while and slowly they come back. I understand that the root needs to be killed in order for the weed to die and that could take a couple applications and the spray is expensive. I want a permanent solution with one application. Any ideas?

**JUKEBOX** · 04-30-2011, 03:49 PM

Roundup

**Tre4ISU** · 04-30-2011, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by JUKEBOX

Roundup

Yeah, do this. Kidding, don't do that. I don't know what types of products you can buy at Wal Mart and such but if you go to any chemical retailer, you should be able to get a product called Milestone in a quart. It will be expensive though so ti could be downfall. Perhaps someone else can tell you something you can find more easily.

**ISUAgronomist** · 04-30-2011, 04:01 PM

Fall is really the best time for effective dandelion control but here are some ideas.

Roundup - Use a sponge and wipe it on the dandelions to avoid killing your grass. Cover all the leaves. It will take time to see them die (5-10 days) due to the way glyphosate kills the plant.

Trimec - available at farm stores. Cheaper than Ortho WBG (similar chemicals) in the long run since it is sold in the concentrated form but you will need a sprayer to mix in. Very effective but should avoid flower beds and shrubs. Safe on grass as long as you spray when the temperature is below 80 degrees (according to the label).

**Tre4ISU** · 04-30-2011, 04:02 PM

Originally Posted by isuaggie

Fall is really the best time for effective dandelion control but here are some ideas.

Roundup - Use a sponge and wipe it on the dandelions to avoid killing your grass. Cover all the leaves. It will take time to see them die due to the way glyphosate kills the plant.

Trimec - available at farm stores. Cheaper than Ortho WBG (similar chemicals) in the long run since it is sold in the concentrated form but you will need a sprayer to mix in. Very effective but should avoid flower beds and shrubs. Safe on grass as long as you spray when the temperature is below 80 degrees (according to the label).

There ya go. Trimec. I forgot about that. That's your best option. Follow the directions.

**CyCrazy** · 04-30-2011, 04:15 PM

Originally Posted by isuaggie

Fall is really the best time for effective dandelion control but here are some ideas.

Roundup - Use a sponge and wipe it on the dandelions to avoid killing your grass. Cover all the leaves. It will take time to see them die (5-10 days) due to the way glyphosate kills the plant.

Trimec - available at farm stores. Cheaper than Ortho WBG (similar chemicals) in the long run since it is sold in the concentrated form but you will need a sprayer to mix in. Very effective but should avoid flower beds and shrubs. Safe on grass as long as you spray when the temperature is below 80 degrees (according to the label).

-Ph.D. student in Weed Science

Weed Science majors are people who couldn't get into Horticulture.

**ISUAgronomist** · 04-30-2011, 04:18 PM

.....

**Tre4ISU** · 04-30-2011, 04:20 PM

Crazy-Sine this is a somewhat relevant thread, I have always wondered what you guys use for herbicides on a golf course? I would assume they would have to be pretty safe things.

**CyCrazy** · 04-30-2011, 04:37 PM

Originally Posted by yaman3

Crazy-Sine this is a somewhat relevant thread, I have always wondered what you guys use for herbicides on a golf course? I would assume they would have to be pretty safe things.

Dimension, Speedzone, Surge. We really only put it down in the fall, but this year we are putting a granular out for dandelions, and hoping to slow goosegrass which is a bastard grass in my opinion, Pendimethilen I beileve. For the fairways(bent) we use Corsair it wipes most weeds out of bent and only yellows the bent for a couple of days.

**CyCrazy** · 04-30-2011, 04:38 PM

Originally Posted by isuaggie

Technically, I'm an Agronomy major who is working in Weed Science (non turf).

I was close to getting an Agronomy minor but said to heck with it and graduated. But, how awesome was Dr. Manu!!

**ISUAgronomist** · 04-30-2011, 04:43 PM

Originally Posted by CyCrazy

I was close to getting an Agronomy minor but said to heck with it and graduated. But, how awesome was Dr. Manu!!

Dr. Manu is probably one of the nicest, most intelligent, and well respected people I have met in my life. Great ambassador for the Agronomy Department.

**JUKEBOX** · 04-30-2011, 04:44 PM

Originally Posted by yaman3

Yeah, do this. Kidding, don't do that. I don't know what types of products you can buy at Wal Mart and such but if you go to any chemical retailer, you should be able to get a product called Milestone in a quart. It will be expensive though so ti could be downfall. Perhaps someone else can tell you something you can find more easily.

Originally Posted by isuaggie

Fall is really the best time for effective dandelion control but here are some ideas.

Roundup - Use a sponge and wipe it on the dandelions to avoid killing your grass. Cover all the leaves. It will take time to see them die (5-10 days) due to the way glyphosate kills the plant.

Trimec - available at farm stores. Cheaper than Ortho WBG (similar chemicals) in the long run since it is sold in the concentrated form but you will need a sprayer to mix in. Very effective but should avoid flower beds and shrubs. Safe on grass as long as you spray when the temperature is below 80 degrees (according to the label).

-Ph.D. student in Weed Science

I was right!

**CyCrazy** · 04-30-2011, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by isuaggie

Dr. Manu is probably one of the nicest, most intelligent, and well respected people I have met in my life. Great ambassador for the Agronomy Department.

I only had 1 class with him, I think Soils 105 or something. But, he is a very good professor and a nice guy. I always loved how bat **** crazy he could be in lecture having fun with the class.

**terryk** · 04-30-2011, 04:57 PM

Originally Posted by cyinne

I am having a hard time trying to get rid of the dandelions in my yard. They are not thick but I want to try to eradicate them before it begins to be a problem. Short of hiring a professional to come in and spray my entire yard or going out and digging them out by hand and leaving craters in my yard what is the best product out there to kill dandelions? I have tried the Ortho Weed-B-Gon Max and some stuff that Earl May has, but that only retards the weed for a while and slowly they come back. I understand that the root needs to be killed in order for the weed to die and that could take a couple applications and the spray is expensive. I want a permanent solution with one application. Any ideas?

Yard service. Dont have one weed or crab grass.

**BoxsterCy** · 04-30-2011, 05:36 PM

If someone at ISU could invent a selective spray for quack grass ISU would be rich with royalties. I am probably going to zap the yard this fall and start over.