Are Dandelions a Perennial?

Life Cycle

Dandelions develop strong, deep taproots that allow them to grow for many years in home landscapes. Taproots can grow 15 feet long under some conditions, but are generally between 6 and 18 inches long in most home landscapes. The plant has a thick rosette of sharply serrated leaves. In the spring, a tall flowering stalk emerges with numerous small seeds that form a puffball. The seeds are dispersed to new areas by wind currents, and the seeds quickly germinate and populate new locations.

Dandelions are considered a significant weed in turf grass lawns and athletic fields. The bright yellow flowers diminish the aesthetic features of an even monocrop of thick turf grass. Dandelions reproduce rapidly and a single flower can produce hundreds of seeds that quickly germinate and form new plants. If left untreated, dandelions quickly establish a large population in home landscapes. On athletic fields and golf courses, dandelions ruin the footing and smoothness of the grass playing surface.

Since dandelion seeds can be blown through the air for miles, it is especially difficult to prevent the weeds from appearing in your lawn. Regular inspection of your turf grass through the spring and summer is important for identifying and removing any new dandelions before they become a problem in your landscape. You can easily remove lone dandelions by hand. It is important to use a hand shovel to grub out the taproot since the plant may reappear if more than 1 inch of the taproot remains in the ground.

If large numbers of dandelions are present in your landscape, you can control them with chemical herbicides such as glyphosate, triclopyr and 2,4-D. These herbicides are effective post-emergent herbicides that quickly kill dandelions when applied directly on the plant. Isoxaben inhibits dandelion seeds from germinating on your property, but like all pre-emergent herbicides, its effectiveness depends on applying the herbicide before dandelions appear. Apply herbicides with care and always follow the instructions as labeled for the formula you use.