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#1
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Dandelions
Soon spring will be here, as will my yellow sea of dandelions. To be honest,
I really haven't tried very hard to get rid of them. I live next to a field that is full of wildflowers (which I quite enjoy), and I had always assumed that any attempt I made to rid my lawn of weeds would be nullified by seeds from the field next door ending up on my lawn.However, in an attempt to be neighbourly, I thought I'd try this year to at least get a start on controlling the dandelions. I really do not want to use chemical fertilizers, so I am looking for an organic solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks -- Shadow Made In Canada, eh. |
#2
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Dandelions
You can use the leaves as salad greens, use the roots as a coffee substitute
and can even make wine from the flowers. http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/...l_health/69711 Shadow wrote in message ... Soon spring will be here, as will my yellow sea of dandelions. To be honest, I really haven't tried very hard to get rid of them. I live next to a field that is full of wildflowers (which I quite enjoy), and I had always assumed that any attempt I made to rid my lawn of weeds would be nullified by seeds from the field next door ending up on my lawn.However, in an attempt to be neighbourly, I thought I'd try this year to at least get a start on controlling the dandelions. I really do not want to use chemical fertilizers, so I am looking for an organic solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks -- Shadow Made In Canada, eh. |
#3
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Dandelions
On Sun, 23 Feb 2003 23:51:08 GMT, "Shadow"
wrote: Soon spring will be here, as will my yellow sea of dandelions. To be honest, I really haven't tried very hard to get rid of them. I live next to a field that is full of wildflowers (which I quite enjoy), and I had always assumed that any attempt I made to rid my lawn of weeds would be nullified by seeds from the field next door ending up on my lawn.However, in an attempt to be neighbourly, I thought I'd try this year to at least get a start on controlling the dandelions. I really do not want to use chemical fertilizers, so I am looking for an organic solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Rent heavy equipment, scrape of the first four or five inches and then lay sod. It would be cheaper and easier to mow more often. If it is flat and green your neighbors won't notice the dandelions. ;-) zhan |
#4
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Dandelions
On Sun, 23 Feb 2003 23:51:08 GMT, "Shadow"
wrote: Soon spring will be here, as will my yellow sea of dandelions. To be honest, I really haven't tried very hard to get rid of them. I live next to a field that is full of wildflowers (which I quite enjoy), and I had always assumed that any attempt I made to rid my lawn of weeds would be nullified by seeds from the field next door ending up on my lawn.However, in an attempt to be neighbourly, I thought I'd try this year to at least get a start on controlling the dandelions. I really do not want to use chemical fertilizers, so I am looking for an organic solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks Sounds like you enjoy the dandelions, so I suggest keep them. But if you really want to put forth the effort and money to rid them you can use a broadleaf herbacide that will kill the dandelions but not harm (too much) the grass. What may happen is that you may be left with a very sparse lawn and eventually need to overseed, else you will be faced with a more vicious weed--crabgrass. If you prefer to go totally organic, you can dig each one out by hand but if you break off the long tapered root, it will grow back. My lawn is thick (I overseed each year), so I may get a dozen or two dandelions over a half acre of lawn each year. A thick lawn requires very little chemicals and I will use spot treatment for the few weeds that grow. |
#5
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Dandelions
Cut them while young and tender, rinse and dress with a hot bacon
dressing...ok it doesn;t get RID of them but gives you a USE for them! Dave On Sun, 23 Feb 2003 23:51:08 GMT, "Shadow" wrote: Soon spring will be here, as will my yellow sea of dandelions. To be honest, I really haven't tried very hard to get rid of them. I live next to a field that is full of wildflowers (which I quite enjoy), and I had always assumed that any attempt I made to rid my lawn of weeds would be nullified by seeds from the field next door ending up on my lawn.However, in an attempt to be neighbourly, I thought I'd try this year to at least get a start on controlling the dandelions. I really do not want to use chemical fertilizers, so I am looking for an organic solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks |
#6
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Dandelions
How big is the area you're trying to rid of dandelions? If it isn't too huge, I
suggest 4 weeks of intense going outside and pulling them up with a little hand tool that helps you loosen up the dirt around the root. Throw a party for the neighborhood kids in which they weed for an hour followed by refreshments and entertainment that you provide. Ten kids working for an hour each is 10 hours of work. They can make a big dent in them. (Or skip the party and just pay them.) The work goes easier when the ground is wet after a heavy rain. If you get behind on pulling them up by the root, make sure you get the flowers before they go to seed. It took me a few years, but I eventually was able to get rid of the worst of my dandelions. (My problem doesn't sound as bad as yours. I don't live next to a field of them.) --Lia Shadow wrote: Soon spring will be here, as will my yellow sea of dandelions. To be honest, I really haven't tried very hard to get rid of them. I live next to a field that is full of wildflowers (which I quite enjoy), and I had always assumed that any attempt I made to rid my lawn of weeds would be nullified by seeds from the field next door ending up on my lawn.However, in an attempt to be neighbourly, I thought I'd try this year to at least get a start on controlling the dandelions. I really do not want to use chemical fertilizers, so I am looking for an organic solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks -- Shadow Made In Canada, eh. |
#7
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Dandelions
You can send me as many as you want. (chemical free though)
I have lizards who see dandelions as being better then almost anything out there...... The eat dandelions like we eat popcorn....... =will= |
#8
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Dandelions
I was going to suggest making Dandilion wine.
Laura B. Cut them while young and tender, rinse and dress with a hot bacon dressing...ok it doesn;t get RID of them but gives you a USE for them! Dave |
#9
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Dandelions
Chickens love them. My neighbor's eat them first when put in a lawn area.
Bob "Shadow" wrote in message ... Soon spring will be here, as will my yellow sea of dandelions. To be honest, I really haven't tried very hard to get rid of them. I live next to a field that is full of wildflowers (which I quite enjoy), and I had always assumed that any attempt I made to rid my lawn of weeds would be nullified by seeds from the field next door ending up on my lawn.However, in an attempt to be neighbourly, I thought I'd try this year to at least get a start on controlling the dandelions. I really do not want to use chemical fertilizers, so I am looking for an organic solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks -- Shadow Made In Canada, eh. |
#10
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Dandelions
Bob wrote:
: Chickens love them. My neighbor's eat them first when put in a lawn area. Horses love dandelions, too. Our old mare moves thoughtfully from plant to plant, nibbling only the tenderest leaves. The trick if you're going to pull them is to get the entire root since otherwise they'll be back. One odd implement which really does a job on dandelions and other tap-rooted weeds like pokeweed goes by the name of Clint's Dandy Digger. http://www.clintsdandydigger.com/ What's really nice about this gadget is that one can work standing up, something one begins to appreciate round about middle age ;-) -- Karen The Garden Gate http://garden-gate.prairienet.org ================================================== ================= "If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need." ^and cats -- Cicero ================================================== ================= On the Web since 1994 Forbes Best of Web 2002 |
#11
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Dandelions
On Mon, 24 Feb 2003 00:45:54 GMT, Phisherman wrote:
On Sun, 23 Feb 2003 23:51:08 GMT, "Shadow" wrote: Soon spring will be here, as will my yellow sea of dandelions. To be honest, I really haven't tried very hard to get rid of them. I live next to a field that is full of wildflowers (which I quite enjoy), and I had always assumed that any attempt I made to rid my lawn of weeds would be nullified by seeds from the field next door ending up on my lawn.However, in an attempt to be neighbourly, I thought I'd try this year to at least get a start on controlling the dandelions. I really do not want to use chemical fertilizers, so I am looking for an organic solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Sounds like you enjoy the dandelions, so I suggest keep them. But if you really want to put forth the effort and money to rid them you can use a broadleaf herbacide that will kill the dandelions but not harm (too much) the grass. What may happen is that you may be left with a very sparse lawn and eventually need to overseed, else you will be faced with a more vicious weed--crabgrass. If you prefer to go totally organic, you can dig each one out by hand but if you break off the long tapered root, it will grow back. My lawn is thick (I overseed each year), so I may get a dozen or two dandelions over a half acre of lawn each year. A thick lawn requires very little chemicals and I will use spot treatment for the few weeds that grow. I second Phisherman's advice. While not "organic," spot-treating with Weed-Be-Gon or some similar broadleaf herbicide is quite effective. When I was able to afford it, I got this in an aerosol can(!) and just sprayed a little foam on each plant. In a thick lawn, this took about 5 minutes on a couple of Saturday mornings, and the problem went away (and the can lasted for 2-3 years). Digging is *very* organic, and quite ineffective -- at least as a long-term cure. The tiniest root fragment will produce new plants. |
#12
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Dandelions
On Sun, 23 Feb 2003 23:01:39 -0600 (CST),
(will) wrote: You can send me as many as you want. (chemical free though) I have lizards who see dandelions as being better then almost anything out there...... The eat dandelions like we eat popcorn....... I've heard of someone saving them for parakeets, too. |
#13
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Dandelions
Frogleg wrote: On Sun, 23 Feb 2003 23:01:39 -0600 (CST), (will) wrote: You can send me as many as you want. (chemical free though) I have lizards who see dandelions as being better then almost anything out there...... The eat dandelions like we eat popcorn....... I've heard of someone saving them for parakeets, too. My dog likes the leaves and the flowers, which have mild analgesic properties. |
#14
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Dandelions
Invest 30 dollars on a tool called The Weed Popper. It requires virtually no
effort and is extremely effective on removal of perennial weeds with tap roots. The best time to do it is a day or so after a nice soaking rain. OR: Screw the neighbors. Personally, I love the dandelion flower and do nothing to eradicate them. I eat the greens. I see nothing wrong with them. On Sun, 23 Feb 2003 23:51:08 GMT, "Shadow" wrote: Soon spring will be here, as will my yellow sea of dandelions. To be honest, I really haven't tried very hard to get rid of them. I live next to a field that is full of wildflowers (which I quite enjoy), and I had always assumed that any attempt I made to rid my lawn of weeds would be nullified by seeds from the field next door ending up on my lawn.However, in an attempt to be neighbourly, I thought I'd try this year to at least get a start on controlling the dandelions. I really do not want to use chemical fertilizers, so I am looking for an organic solution. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks |
#15
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Dandelions
You know, Johnny's Select Seeds actually sells a cultivated form of dandelion
seeds? This is one pretty plant. I don't understand what the hoopla is about when they pop up. Mowing them before they form seed moons is one other way of keeping them from spreading, but getting rid of them is silly. I didn't know lizards like them! What a plus. We have lizards all over the place. Both Anole's and fence lizards. See some babies from our yard he http://home.austin.rr.com/animaux/ne...n/Page_5x.html http://home.austin.rr.com/animaux/ne...n/Page_6x.html On Sun, 23 Feb 2003 23:01:39 -0600 (CST), (will) wrote: You can send me as many as you want. (chemical free though) I have lizards who see dandelions as being better then almost anything out there...... The eat dandelions like we eat popcorn....... =will= |
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