Any tools to pull off the wild yellow flowers ?

jackieng · Post by **jackieng** » Thu May 28, 2009 10:27 pm

I heard before that there is a tool to pull off the wild yellow flowers from the garden (don't know exactly what is the name of the yellow flowers, but is the one which grow rapidly in the garden and roadside during the summer in Finland). Does anyone here know the Finnish name of the tool ? Or any advise how to get rid off it from the garden ?

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AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Thu May 28, 2009 10:33 pm

You must be talking about dandelions and the Finnish name is voikukka.

I'll bet if you go to a garden store and say only "voikukka" the assistants will frown at you with pity, shake their heads while saying "voi, voi..." and show you all kinds of tools and concoctions. Whether the tools and concoctions will be any use against the spring surge of dandelions is doubtful. There arewindy days when the air is filled with their floating white seeds.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Thu May 28, 2009 10:56 pm

Yup, Fiskars makes one gizmo...
http://www.fiskars.com/fi/fi/Ty%C3%B6ka ... 81319.html

jackieng · Post by **jackieng** » Thu May 28, 2009 10:57 pm

Voikukka ! That's the one I am talking about. Thank you very much !

raamv · Post by **raamv** » Fri May 29, 2009 12:53 am

jackieng wrote:Voikukka ! That's the one I am talking about. Thank you very much !

One tool that my kids use is called their Hands...

EP · Post by EP » Fri May 29, 2009 1:04 am

There is a way more simple tool than the one in Fiskar´s pages that Hank showed. The tool´s name is "voikukkarauta". Hands are not enough, you need to get also the roots off. Push the tool to the ground, wriggle a little, and then use your hands. I must have taken at least a thousand off day before yesterday. Very good muscle excercise for the thighs and buttocs. And very bad for nails.

AldenG · Post by **AldenG** » Fri May 29, 2009 1:15 am

EP wrote:Very good muscle excercise for the thighs and buttocs.

At first I thought I knew the tool you had in mind. Then I read this sentence, and now I'm not so sure.

How is this implement used, exactly? Do you have any photos or video of your technique?

Karhunkoski · Post by **Karhunkoski** » Fri May 29, 2009 6:29 am

Just pulling the heads off is of little help, either the long root needs removing (as EP says), or else the plant must be killed whilst still in the soil (sprinkling salt on them works for me)

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Fri May 29, 2009 8:52 am

I've given up the battle with the ones on the lawn. It is hopeless. Anyway, they are nice and colourful after a long drab winter. I have psyched myself into thinking they are beautiful. And BTW the leaves are edible.

There is a version of "Round Up" in a spray that can be used on dandilions but it takes about 3 weeks to have any effect. Not all the dandlilions have the same root system (there must be a dozen different varieties in Finland). Some are easier to pull than others.

jas_rho · Post by **jas_rho** » Fri May 29, 2009 10:22 am

Pursuivant wrote:Yup, Fiskars makes one gizmo...
http://www.fiskars.com/fi/fi/Ty%C3%B6ka ... 81319.html

I've had the best luck with this. It usually gets the whole root out. I don't use any of those chemicals since my yard is so small but I think the best combo would be using that tool plus the chemicals to kill the weeds.

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Fri May 29, 2009 10:43 am

AldenG wrote:
EP wrote:Very good muscle excercise for the thighs and buttocs.
At first I thought I knew the tool you had in mind. Then I read this sentence, and now I'm not so sure.

Well theres short ones http://www.agrimarket.fi/Piha_ja_Puutar ... S-2K_Wolf/
And long ones http://kauppa.savenmaa.fi/PublishedServ ... ode=voi149
And funny handle ones http://kauppa.savenmaa.fi/filemanager/p ... Upload.jpg

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Fri May 29, 2009 11:06 am

Pursuivant wrote:
Well theres short ones http://www.agrimarket.fi/Piha_ja_Puutar ... S-2K_Wolf/

Thanks sir. Used to have one of those and lost it (somewhere in the undergrowth no doubt) and couldn't find a new one anywhere. They are ace for pulling dandilions.

About 4 years ago I spent a whole week gardening (it was a jungle at the time) while the kitchen was being fitted (there was nothing much else I could do except stand and watch and whine at the workmanship). Anyway, after a few days I actually started having vivid dandilion nightmares and I strained a ligament in my right hand: I couldn't move my little finger (which made drinking tea very difficult).

Off to Agrimarket.... where is the nearest one

?

Pursuivant · Post by **Pursuivant** » Fri May 29, 2009 2:19 pm

Check the "funny handle one" it might be slightly more ergonomic (that savenmaa is on my block list on paydays...

)

Rosamunda · Post by **Rosamunda** » Fri May 29, 2009 4:12 pm

Pursuivant wrote:Check the "funny handle one" it might be slightly more ergonomic (that savenmaa is on my block list on paydays... )

Yes, you're probably right. I'll look for one in the UK (garden centres on every road). There will be a host of golden dandilions in the garden by the time we get back, espcially if the "26 degrees sunny" forecast really does happen.

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