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Technically, dandelions aren’t bad for your lawn, and they don’t directly kill grass. In fact, they appear in areas that are nutrient-deprived, and their long taproots can loosen the soil and bring nutrients closer to the surface. 

However, dandelions do spread quickly, and they can take over your lawn, eventually crowding out grass. This is why a healthy lawn is the best defense against dandelions.

It’s best to pull weeds when the soil is wet, as it’s much easier. Wet soil is much softer than dry soil, making it easier to pull the entire weed up by the root. Also, since the soil is wet, the roots will let go of the soil and slide up with less resistance. Be careful when working on your wet garden, though, as wet soil is easier to compact, which can harm your plants.

Several tools exist that can help remove unwanted grass. The one you choose depends greatly on how much you need to remove and how hard you'd like to work. A sod or turf cutter is the fastest method while using a shovel is labor-intensive and much slower. You may also need a garden rake, tiller, and wheelbarrow. 

Yellow patches, poor growth, or widespread weeds indicate a need for treatment. Soil testing can confirm nutritional deficiencies that require intervention.