On Mon, 16 May 2005 20:05:24 -0400, Peter H wrote:


"Timothy" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 15 May 2005 13:53:36 +0000, Rob Sullivan wrote:

Hello,
My lawn is infested with dandelions. Last summer I used this removal
tool,
hoping that would remove the roots and get rid of them for good. Now
this
spring my lawn is covered in dandelions again!

Any ideas on what I can do. I live in a subdivsion close to city water
so
I'm looking for a safe way to kill them without using crazy
pesticides.

Any ideas or tips would be appriciated. Thanks, Rob Sullivan

Good day Rob. The safest way to remove them in mechanical. The best way
to do it is to remove them in the early spring or early fall. After you
remove the dandelion, take a handful of grass seed and spread it in the
empty area left from the weed. Refrain from mowing for a few weeks if
you can so the seed can sprout.

The best way to keep the weeds out of the lawn is to have a higher
mowing hight, 2 1/2 to 3 inches is best and a good fertilizer program.
Fertilizing in the mid spring and again in the early fall and you should
have nice looking turf.

Good luck.

The higher you cut the grass the fewer grass plants you will have per
square foot. Long term this may not help to reduce weeds as a thicker lawn
will do a better job of preventing infestation.

This statement maybe true...if one was to mow a 12 inches 80P
If a person was to keep the grass length to 2 to 4 inches, mowed
regularly (weekly) and fertilize twice a year, many of the more common
lawn issues will be gone. This by no means implies that the lawn will be a
weed free haven but it's a situation that can be managed with acceptable
results (for most people).

Other issues to be aware of is the fact that grass tends to do better if
the soil is a bit acidic. Grass tends to do best with a ph around 6.5 to
7.0 . The more the ph ranges above 7, more broadleaf plants will
survive and the turf tends to be thinner. Dandylions _love high ph soil
btw.

If ones finds that the weeds have overtaken the lawn more than their
willing to accept, then one can de-thatch the lawn and re-seed. This is
one way to reduce the weed infestations that one may experience.

Better luck.
--
Yard Works Gardening Co.
http://www.ywgc.com