By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Chinese refer to the dandelion as an "earth nail" because of its long and sturdy taproot. A single dandelion plant can produce 10 of the familiar yellow flowers and up to 2,000 seeds, most of which fall within 30 feet of the original plant. That can make controlling the weeds difficult. Alicia Boor, agriculture and natural resources agent in the Cottonwood District for K-State Research and Extension, said control should actually begin in November.
"If you see those now, you need to note where they are in your yard, then treat for those in November because they are a winter annual much like wheat is, where it comes up in the fall and slowly grows over the winter, then comes out and explodes and has the flowers so it can produce the seeds."
As the weather cools in the fall, the dandelions begin moving nutrients to that long taproot. Applying an herbicide at that time will help kill the plant. Fall sprays also help control other winter annuals including bindweed, chickweed, and henbit. The season for controlling other undesirables in the yard is quickly approaching.
"To control crabgrass, at this time of year, you want to use a crabgrass preventer," Boor said. "You can go get it at any of our local stores where you'd normally get your herbicides. It is a preventer, and you want to put that preventer down when the redbud trees on Broadway are in full bloom."
A crabgrass preventer eliminates the seedlings as they germinate. The herbicide should be applied once the ground temperature rises above 60 degrees. That typically coincides with shrubs blooming and trees budding.