Creeping oxalis (Oxalis corniculata).
Creeping oxalis is an annual or sometimes perennial herb, and is also known as Yellow Wood Sorrel or Wood Sorrel. It is a weed of gardens and lawns, and has three leaflets on each leaf. Often this troublesome weed forms dense mats in lawns that choke out turf.
It is often confused with Soursob, Soursop or Creeping Buttercup (Oxalis pes-caprae), which does not have creeping above ground stems and reproduces mostly via underground bulbs. This flowers mainly in Winter and goes dormant over the Summer.
Another way to distinguish these weeds is that Soursop grows well in heavy, fertile, well-drained soils and tends to favour areas not prone to frost.
This discusses the cultural and chemical options to remove Creeping oxalis from your lawn and turf areas.
Creeping oxalis Identification.
Creeping oxalis has three heart-shaped spotted or marked leaves and bright yellow flowers.
Flower: Yellow Wood Sorrel has yellow flowers with five petals that are around 15 mm in diameter. It flowers from September to April.
Height: It grows up to 30 cm in height.
Leaf length: The leaves of Wood Sorrel are egg shaped, and 4–13 mm long. Each leaf has a distinct notch at the end of it.
Leaf width: Leaf width 11 -24 mm wide.
Reproduction: This weed reproduces by seed but spreads rapidly vegetatively.
Comments: The leaves are covered in coarse hairs.
Habitat: Creeping oxalis is a good indicator of soil problems. It prefers moist soil, and partial shade, can tolerate drought-prone sites, and is tolerant of a wide range of conditions. More weed information is in our Weed ID Chart.
Unlike many oxalis species, Wood Sorrel doesn’t have underground bulbs, but is able to reproduce vegetatively via a very efficient system of stolons. It allows Creeping oxalis to rapidly spread to form dense mats over turf.
How to remove Creeping oxalis from your lawn.
Although you can attempt cultural and chemical control to remove Creeping oxalis, cultural control is very difficult.
Cultural control:
Cultural control of Yellow Wood Sorrel is extremely difficult as if you leave any bulbs of Creeping oxalis behind in the soil it regenerates. Under close mowing it assumes a prostrate growth habit.
Chemical control:
There are several registered turf herbicides that control Yellow Wood Sorrel. Products that contain 2,4-D usually provide the best results.
Any post-emergent herbicides are best applied to Wood Sorrel in daylight hours as the leaves fold downward towards the evening, which makes it difficult to get herbicides to stick onto the foliage.
$567.00
Campbells Stature Herbicide is a selective turf herbicide that controls broadleaf weeds. It is a unique 3-way formulation, and contains MCPA, Bromoxynil and diflufenican (a key active ingredient Warhead Trio
$200.00
Quali-Pro Negate Herbicide is a selective turf herbicide for grass & broadleaf weeds. Has excellent safety on couch and Zoysia. Not for use on Buffalo.
$180.00
Rapid Fire 800SG is a non-selective herbicide containing 800g/kg of the active ingredient glyphosate. It controls a wide range of perennial and annual weeds in a range of situations that
$160.00 – $745.00
Proforce Duke 100WG Herbicide is a selective turf herbicide and a Destiny herbicide alternative. It gives selective grass & broadleaf weed control and can be used on Buffalo Turf.
$145.00 – $595.00
Echelon Duo Advanced Herbicide + Insecticide & Fertiliser is a Pre-emergent herbicide for control of Summergrass, Crowsfoot, Winter grass and Creeping Oxalis. It also controls African Black Beetle, Argentinian Scarab
$155.00 – $685.00
Proforce Recondo 100WG Herbicide is a Monument herbicide alternative & controls broadleaf & grass weeds & suppresses Kikuyu. Do not use on Buffalo Turf.
$357.00
BASF Freehand is a pre-emergent herbicide, for both broadleaf & grassy weeds. It is a granular & controls & suppresses more than 60 weeds up to 3 months.
$350.00
ProForce Weed Blast MA Herbicide is a post-emergent broadleaf herbicide, for use on a range of established turfgrass species that includes Couch, Qld Blue Couch, Kikuyu, Paspalum, Buffalo, Fescue, Bent
$105.00
Casper Turf Herbicide is a selective post-emergent herbicide. It controls broadleaf weeds in turf and contains the actives Dicamba and Prosulfuron. Do not use on Buffalo Turf.
$150.00
ProForce Warhead Herbicide is a premium selective herbicide and an equivalent to Turf Control, Spearhead and Javelin herbicides. It gives outstanding control of broadleaf weeds in turf.
$220.00
ProForce Contra M Herbicide is a broad-spectrum weedkiller giving quick kill of broadleaf weeds & it controls 38 weeds in turf. Do not use on Buffalo Turf.
$270.00
MCPA 750 Herbicide is a selective herbicide that controls many broadleaf weeds in established grass playing fields and lawns.
$590.00
Pylex Herbicide controls warm season grass & broadleaf weeds in cool season turf. It can be used in Buffalo, Kikuyu, Couch, QLD Blue & Bentgrass greens.