It’s going to take more than making a wish to get rid of dandelions. This wishy weed is a broadleaf perennial plant that prefers full sun and can grow in any soil. You’ll see new sprouts pop up in early spring, but the roots can be as far as two to three feet deep in the soil.

Dandelions are known for their yellow flowers that eventually transform into white puffballs of seeds. These seeds easily travel wherever the wind takes them, spreading themselves over your lawn and into your neighbor’s. Even though the flowers disappear in the fall, the taproot survives deep in the soil to start the cycle again next spring. To keep dandelions out of your yard, you have to get to the root of the problem.

How to Get Rid of Dandelions in the Lawn

Even the best cared for lawns will have an occasional dandelion. They are difficult to completely eliminate, and the entire plant (root and all) of the dandelion needs to be removed or they can grow back.

Dandelion Prevention

The best way to keep dandelions from overtaking your lawn is to kill the whole plant from the root, up. Apply a weed-and-feed product in the spring, then follow up in a few weeks with more weed killer to keep new weeds from establishing themselves in your lawn. Be sure to follow the instructions on the label.

Don’t hand weed dandelions, as this leaves the root in place and will grow back. If you want to go the more natural route, make sure the root is completely removed no matter how deep it goes.

Maintain a Weed-Free Lawn

A thick, healthy lawn is the best method for preventing dandelions and other broadleaf weeds. Mow the grass at a high setting. Fertilize regularly to help keep your lawn thick enough to keep weeds like dandelions from establishing in the first place.