A Preliminary Study of Some Herbicides on Dandelions

The dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Weber) is one of the most common and persistent weeds in lawns and one for which no effective and practical method of eradication has been devised. Cutting the plants below the surface of the soil is effective if repeated frequently, but few individuals consider this method practical. Sprays such as iron sulfate which are supposed to have a differential action on dandelions and grasses leave much to be desired, while stimulating the grasses in an attempt to crowd out the dandelions has met with only moderate success. This situation led to a search for an effective method of application of a dandelion herbicide, and for a herbicide that is lethal to the plant, but does not persist in the soil. As the studies advanced it became apparent that eradication of the dandelions was only the first step in their control. While the dandelion plants were being eradicated it was necessary to stimulate the lawn grasses to prevent the rapid reestablishment of seedling dandelions