Simple dandolien question

[pjslawncare/landscap]

Just curious, almost every lawn no matter how well maintained will have a dandoline or two. Question is, if your mower chops a dandolien flower, will it still continue to seed and spead (just the yellow flower, not the plant).

[LWNMWR1]

the flower will continue to return until it is pollinated and the white snowball of seeds forms then they all fly away and make new dandelions. life is beautiful!!

[pjslawncare/landscap]

Actually I meant the flower that gets cut off before it turns white. After it is cut off, will it die quickly and not reproduce or will the severed flower still continue its process of turning white and reproducing without the plant

[marko]

Originally Posted by pjslawncare/landscap

Just curious, almost every lawn no matter how well maintained will have a dandoline or two. Question is, if your mower chops a dandolien flower, will it still continue to seed and spead (just the yellow flower, not the plant).

Cutting the flowers off will only set their flower heads lower, so you might as well cut the grass at the correct height to help make it competitive against these and other weeds - which is 2.5 to 3.0 inches. Cutting the turf shorter in order to catch the dandelion flower will only thin the turf making it vulnerable to wear, insect damage, more weeds, and environmental stresses. Instead, use the blooms as a target for Trimec, a systemic herbicide. Don't kid yourself that because you see the flower stems and leaves curling, that you have seen the last of dandelions in your lawn! They will be back in about 2 weeks, so another application is necessary at that time.

[pjslawncare/landscap]

Thanks Marko, We do cut @ 3" - 3 1/2" in spring and 4" in summer