6 Simple Organic Ways to Kill Dandelions at Home (2024)

An absolute indication of early spring is a plethora of broadleaf weeds like dandelions in full bloom. Although they may have a few benefits, they are a nuisance to many because they invade desirable plants, grow long taproots, and pull most water out of the lawn.

This article discusses how to make a natural dandelion killer and have a healthy lawn – weed free. Many people do not get enchanted by dandelions because they seem to pop up overnight even after being cut by a lawnmower and they take over the whole lawn.

Regardless of soil conditions, they are excellent at scattering their prolific dandelion seeds as the wind carries their light, parachute-like seed heads and bring a ubiquitous threat dominating grass lawns.

How to Get Rid of Dandelions – Natural Dandelion Killing Tips & Recipes

Use Boiling Water to Eliminate Dandelions

Just like how boiling water can kill ants and certain microorganisms, it is also an effective weed killer. All you need to do is bring the water to a boil and pour it over dandelions.

Make sure it reaches the roots. Within four hours, the leaves will start to turn brown. Once they become brown, pull out the dandelion roots, and problem solved!

Get Rid of Dandelions with Corn Gluten Meal

Corn gluten is a pre-emergent herbicide. Pre-emergent means it is applied before weed seeds germinate. For best weed-killing results, apply twenty pounds of corn gluten per 1,000 square feet into the lawn. Then lightly water it to help the absorption of the corn gluten.

Be sure to apply only in areas where you have unwanted plants because it may kill not just the dandelion seeds but other plants as well (..).

How to Get Rid of Dandelions with Rubbing Alcohol

Rubbing alcohol, a.k.a. isopropyl alcohol, is useful in destroying dandelion weeds. It works by sucking the moisture from the dandelion’s leaves which eventually kills the weed seeds and the plant.

Mix the ingredients, spray on the dandelions or use on moss in your lawn, and reapply if they haven’t withered after three to six hours.

Take note, however, that we only recommend alcohol mixture if your dandelion problem is just a few square feet in size. If your lawn has a lot of dandelions spread over a large area, try one of the following recipes to save money.

Utilize White Vinegar for Weed Removal

For those who do not want to utilize dangerous chemicals to kill weeds, you can still make a homemade dandelion killer using vinegar. According to many studies, such as ones conducted by USDA, the benefits of white vinegar are countless.

Vinegar is useful in pest control and removal of unwanted plants. And because white vinegar contains acetic acid, it has natural herbicidal properties. Just get a spray bottle, fill it up with undiluted vinegar, and spray it on the dandelion plants.

You may wonder will vinegar kill grass? Yes, vinegar will kill any plants it touches, so be sure to apply it only to dandelions or other weeds themselves and save your grass.

Kill Dandelions with White Vinegar and Dish Soap

Another effective dandelion weed killer that does not involve the use of chemical herbicides is a mixture of vinegar and dish soap.

Mix this simple solution in a spray bottle. It’s highly effective for organic weed control. The dish soap helps to get rid of dandelions by making the mixture stick better to its yellow flowers and leaves.

It is best to spray it on dandelions if no rain is expected in the next couple of days so rainwater won’t dilute the mixture. Be sure to only spray the plants you want to eliminate, as this recipe doesn’t discriminate.

How to Get Rid of Dandelions with White Vinegar, Dish Soap, and Salt

Perennial weeds such as dandelion plants are sometimes not easy to defeat. Some homemade weed killers may work initially, but because new seeds get distributed easily, they continuously propagate in a large area.

If vinegar with dish soap is not that effective for your lawn weeds, try to use a stronger natural dandelion killer.

Mix all of the ingredients above, get a spray bottle and start spraying in your lawn areas.

Killing dandelion weeds does not necessarily mean using toxic chemicals. A homemade dandelion killer is yet another way for weed control.

Whether dandelions bother you in your lawn or with your hobby in organic gardening, we hope that the tips and recipes we have listed above can help you get rid of dandelions.

Recipe for a Natural Dandelion Killer

Natural Dandelion Killer

Yield: 4 cups

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 15 minutes

Difficulty: Easy

Get rid of unwanted dandelions in your otherwise beautiful lawn.

Materials

• 2 tbsp isopropyl alcohol
• 32 ounces water

Tools

• Tablespoon
• 32 ounce sprayer bottle
• Measuring cup

Instructions

1. Pour the water and alcohol into the spray bottle.
2. Shake to mix.
3. Spritz dandelions completely.
4. Reapply if needed.

Notes

This weed killer works best on a warm, sunny day with no rain in the forecast.

If you found this article about natural dandelion killing tips helpful, don’t forget to share these tips with anyone who might be interested to know how to get rid of dandelions. Remember, sharing is caring.