Thanks for the tips. I bought one of those Grandpa diggers (or whatever it’s called) that was supposed to make it easy to dig things up by their roots. It was still hard work and I still get dandelions all over the grass (sigh).
My neighbors have Lawn OCD...and Im sure I drive them nuts, because although I manicure the front yard, I leave the dandylions in the backyard...I figure the wild rabbits need something to eat too!