Dandelion
Learn how to eliminate dandelions from your garden.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time to act | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Dandelions (Taraxacum officinale) can spread quickly via seed to colonise freshly cultivated soil, and are able to survive in compacted soil in lawns. The deep tap root allows them to survive and re-grow when the top of the plant is cut off. Seed can blow in from surrounding gardens, fields and waste-ground.
Symptoms
Clump of leaves growing from a single or multiple point. Leaves and flower stalks ooze a milky substance when snapped. Bright yellow-orange flowers are followed by a fluffy seedhead or dandelion 'clock'.
Find it on
established flowerbeds, cracks in paving, garden walls, lawns
Organic
Remove the whole tap root by digging down into the soil with a knife or spike-like daisy grubber. Stop plants from setting seed by removing flowers before they produce fluffy seeds.
Chemical
Dandelions growing in paving or flowerbeds can be treated by applying a systemic weedkiller at the leaves. A selective lawn weedkiller or a lawn feed and weed product can be used on dandelions growing in lawns.
Festive subscription offer
Save 51% on the shop price. Subscribe to BBC Gardeners' World Magazine today and get 6 months of free seeds for Spring 2025.
Year Planner 2025 on sale
Starting to plan your gardening year? The Year Planner 2025 is packed with expert advice from the Gardeners’ World team, to ensure you have your best gardening year yet.
Discover our new digital travel brochure
Whether it's a thrilling Arctic cruise or a charming getaway to historic Bath, our NEW travel brochure has exciting options for everyone.
Discover Dangerous Plants
From witchcraft to murder mysteries, uncover the power of plants in the new BBC Gardeners' World Magazine podcast series.
