NORTHERN "AG" EXPOSURE

by Mark Miller
Rolette County Extension Agent

Published in the Turtle Mt. Star, May 21, 2001

DANDELIONS ARE COMING UP ALL OVER!

Questions are coming in concerning dandelions: "If I cut my grass short enough to remove the dandelion flowers, will that stop them from setting seed?" How I wish that did it! They will only set their flower heads lower, so you might as well cut the grass at the correct height to help make it competitive against these and other weeds - which is 2.5 to 3.0 inches. Cutting the turf shorter in order to catch the dandelion flower will only thin the turf  making it vulnerable to wear, insect damage, more weeds, and environmental stresses. Instead, use the blooms as a target for Trimec, a systemic herbicide. Don't kid yourself that because you see the flower stems and leaves curling, that you have seen the last of dandelions in your lawn! They will be back in about 2 weeks, so another application is necessary at that time.

Finally, the absolute best time to apply any herbicide to control broadleaf weeds in your lawn is in the late summer or early fall - just before Labor Day weekend. The lawn should not be watered or mowed for two days after application. Keep in mind that dandelion seeds can be carried miles by a slight breeze, with each plant having the capability of producing over 15,000 seeds.

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Updated May 14,2001 Shelley Armstrong,Webmaster