Public Service Announcement
Dandelions-- Don’t Worry, It’s Only Mother Nature
(Wednesday, May 10/06)-- Every spring, HRM receive calls from the public regarding the uncared-for look of dandelions on municipally-owned property.
Dandelions are a perennial and occur in a two-to-three week flush (rapid period of growth) during the last few weeks of May and the first few weeks of June. At this time, the plants are very evident because of their bright yellow flowers and fluffy round-seed heads. HRM is currently experiencing the height of dandelion season. There is a second flush (but less noticeable) during late summer, when the temperature cools down again.
The dandelion flower stalk can grow as much as three to four inches in 12 hours, and can be 6-12 inches high within 24 to 46 hours. This is part of its ecological strategy to get its seed head above the surrounding grass, where the seeds can be caught by the wind and scattered. This means that even newly-mown turf can look uncared for within one or two days of mowing. It usually takes two to three mowing cycles, depending on the cutting schedule, to get through the spring flush of dandelions.
HRM grass mowing standards were developed to maintain grass on municipally-owned property at acceptable heights to encourage healthy turf. However, the municipality does not currently have the means to carry out mowing at a frequent, rotational level to keep the dandelions at the height standard for grass.
Dandelions do slow down in growth as the hotter/dryer weather of summer sets in and become far less obvious.
The two most effective methods of control are broadleaf herbicides or mechanical removal (digging out the taproot). Use of pesticides/herbicides on municipal property is prohibited. There is a biological fungus (non-chemical pesticide) control which is being researched and tested, but has yet to be approved for commercial use. When this product becomes available, HRM staff plan to test it for use on municipal parks and properties. Keeping the turf grass as healthy as possible is also a means of limiting dandelions. This is accomplished through a good fertilizing and liming and aeration program.
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John O’Brien
Manager, Corporate Communications
490-6531
