How to Prevent & Remove Dandelions

Step 1 Don’t Cut Grass Too Short

Short grass brings more sunlight to the soil, allowing weeds like dandelions to thrive. Keep grass about 2” tall.

Woman mowing her lawn.
Don't cut too short when mowing, or you may get more unwanted plants in your yard.

Step 2 Treat Your Lawn Early

For a potent herbicide, use weed and feed in early spring. Follow product instructions and apply carefully. If you have a lot of ground to cover, using a spreader can help you save time.

Need more safety instructions? Read this article (Pesticide Safety article link) on safe application of pesticides.

Man pouring fertilizer in spreader.
Applying weed and feed early does the work for you when it comes to a lawn free of dandelions.

Step 3 Apply New Grass Seed

After about three weeks from the time of using weed and feed, apply new grass seed in the correct sun and shade type for your climate.

This will help crowd out weeds and thicken your lawn. If you put down grass seed in too short a time following the weed and feed application, the new grass seed will not germinate.

Woman spreading seed on her lawn.
Put down fresh seed to help get the lawn you want without the weeds.

Step 4 Pull from the Roots

When a stray weed pops up, pull it out! Dandelions have a single root. Root gone = weed gone.

Man pulling weeds from lawn.
When pulling dandelions, make sure you get down to the root first. Image generated using AI.