3 Ways to Get Rid of Dandelions Without Chemicals

Dandelions are a deceptive plant—their yellow flowers are bright and cheery (and kind of pretty!) but the reality is that they’re technically a weed. 

“Dandelions create more competition for your lawn to absorb the necessary nutrients and water it needs to thrive. Eliminating them will ensure that the right nutrients are going to the right places for a dense, green lawn to exist,” says Roger May, PhD, horticulture expert and director of technical operations for TruGreen. 

Fortunately, you can get rid of dandelions—Dr. May weighs in on three chemical-free ways to do just that.

Remove Them Manually 

You can pull out dandelion weeds to get rid of them, though Dr. May notes this won’t permanently rid your lawn of dandelions since dandelion seeds can always establish new weeds—they blow in the wind after all, making them highly prolific! 

That being said, should you choose to remove them by hand, you need to do so properly. “Dandelions have a large tap root that stores food for the plant, similar to a carrot, and if the entire root isn’t removed, the weed can grow back,” Dr. May says.

He suggests purchasing a dandelion weeding tool, which has a long metal shaft with a forked end that allows you to dig deep into the soil and pull up the weed with the entire root.

Spray White Vinegar 

If you’d prefer to skip chemical herbicides, you can turn to vinegar to control your weeds. According to Dr. May, it will “burn up” the dandelion leaves and force the weed to grow more. “After multiple applications, the dandelion will use up the food reserved in its taproot as it tries to grow back and eventually die,” Dr. May says.

He cautions, though, that vinegar will also burn healthy grass, so make sure you’re targeting just the weed when you spray. 

Sprinkle Corn Gluten

Corn gluten meal is an option for tackling dandelions just as they’re about to take root—it’s far less effective on established weeds. 

Aim to sprinkle corn gluten meal in late March (or when the soil temperature hits 50 degrees Fahrenheit) on a dry day. Make sure you pull out the established dandelions first. Dethatch your lawn next, then spread the corn gluten meal evenly. Lastly, water your grass lightly to activate the product. 

Purchase corn gluten meal that’s specifically marketed as an herbicide. “Corn meal” and “corn gluten feed” are not the same as “corn gluten meal.”