The Might Maligned Dandelion: How to Harness This “Weed” as a Powerful Fertilizer

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Lots of people loathe dandelions and are willing to go to great lengths to pull the inflorescences out of their lawns.

A thrifty gardener knows better than to throw the dandelions away, though. Why would you throw a perfectly good natural fertilizer?

Sure, the dandelion weed growing in your lawn isn’t a fertilizer… yet.

But you can change that.

Dandelions as Nutrient Accumulators

I’ll admit the research around “dynamic accumulators” is a bit iffy. But that doesn’t change the fact that mineral accumulation is a real thing, and dandelions do it well.

Ironically, the thing people hate the most about dandelions is the one you want to thank. Yes, that would be the extremely long taproots that can gather nutrients like crazy.

In fact, the roots do it so well that iron-based herbicides work on dandelions (and other broadleaf weeds).

The herbicides provide a whole lot of iron, and the weeds take the bait. When they absorb all that extra iron, they basically get poisoned and die.

But I digress. You won’t be using any iron-based herbicides for now.

You just need to let the dandelion take up “normal” nutrients from the soil. Then, you’ll pull it out and ferment it, creating a nutrient-rich liquid fertilizer.

What You’ll Need to Turn Dandelions Into a Liquid Fertilizer

Here’s what you’ll need:

• A large plastic bucket
• Shears (optional)
• Twine
• Breathable cloth or a sieve
• A stick (any long one will do)

Be warned, though.

The process stinks, and you’ll likely need to throw the cloth away when you’re done. Don’t use one that you care about.

How to Make Dandelion Tea

Do you have everything ready? Well, head out to your lawn and start looking for the dandelions!

1. Pick the Creme de la Crop

You don’t want to harvest dandelions that have been exposed to pesticides, herbicides, or any dangerous chemicals (think vehicle emissions).

Even if you’re sure the area is safe, you still need to check for signs of infestation or nutrient deficiencies. The ideal harvest is a lush, healthy dandelion crop.

2. Chop (Or Not)

Sometimes, I take my garden shears and chop down the dandelions into small bits. This way, they’ll break down easier.

But it’s perfectly fine to skip this step and dump the dandelions into the bucket.

Yes, the whole plant can be fermented—roots and all.

Pro Tip: Line the bucket with a large permeable sac before you toss the weeds in. You’ll know why in a minute.

3. Mix With Enough Water

This part is tricky because making dandelion tea isn’t an exact science.

Some people use about half a gallon of water for every pound of dandelions. Others double the water portion.

You’ll dilute the fermented liquid in the end. So, it shouldn’t be a major issue either way.

Make sure to stir well using a stick. Then, cover up the bucket with the cloth and tie it in place with twine.

4. Set and Wait

Put your bucket away from direct sunlight. For the next 2–4 weeks, you don’t have to do anything but give the mixture occasional stirs.

5. Cover Your Nose and Strain

Now, you need to separate the plant bits from the slurry. To do this, you can use a cheesecloth or a pantyhose and a second bucket.

But if you follow the little pro tip I included in the second step, things will be much easier here. You’ll simply lift the sack and throw it away.

6. Dilute and Use Your Fertilizer

Finally, you can dilute (up to 10 parts water) the dandelion tea and use it around the garden. Treat it like a regular foliar spray, or pour it around the base of your plants.

Since the tea has a nice dose of potassium, I’d use it around tomatoes, cantaloupes, and strawberries. Legumes also love their potassium!

3 Drawbacks to Using Dandelion Weeds as a Fertilizer

Dandelion fertilizer is cost-effective and easy to make. That said, there are a few drawbacks to consider before you get started on the slurry.

• It stinks.
• There’s a contamination risk based on what chemicals your dandelions were exposed to.
• You never really know the NPK ratio.

Final Thoughts

Do you see dandelions in a different light already? These yellow inflorescences can be good for your garden, but only if you know how to use them!

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