Dandelions and weeds can be an annoying problem to deal with, making gardens and driveways unsightly. However, removing them naturally may be a difficult task.
When dandelions sprout, they can easily become a reccurring problem, poking out through cracks and spaces in patios. A number of people use vinegar to deal with the issue, but the experts at The Spruce have suggested another natural remedy which can help kill unwanted dandelions and prevent them from returning.
How to kill dandelions
Instead of applying white vinegar, consider boiling water instead. The Spruce instructed to use a kettle-full of water, boiling it. Pour with a spout to protect from any risk of burning.
The experts advised to apply the boiling water to the dandelions and weeds you want to remove. They wrote: “Reapply after seven to ten days to increase the likelihood of killing the deep taproot. Keep in mind that any other plantings exposed to the water will also be damaged or killed.”
Boiling water can help remove dandelions and weeds by “shocking” them, ultimately damaging the plant’s cells and, in turn, killing them. Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed’s From Seed to Spoon app, told Southern Living: “It is particularly effective on young, annual weeds and weeds growing in cracks or small areas.”
While this may be a less potent way to kill dandelions, it may not always be a reliable remedy, and not effective in the long term. Robert Silver, gardening expert and CEO of Pro Gardening, told Real Homes that the reason is because the boiling water doesn’t get all the way to the root of the plant.
He said: “The main reason boiling water fails as a weed killer is that it cannot get to the entire root system of most weeds.”
Boiling water won’t always be as effective because dandelion roots may grow sideways and deep into the soil, and they tend to have thick and fleshy roots. Robert explained: “Boiling water can kill the tops, but because soil insulates the roots, this allows them to regrow.”