Oxalis - Anyone know how to get rid of it?

southislandswim, Jan 2, 4:09am
x2
Oxalis is starting to take over our beautiful garden, I think it must have blown in or with birds as it really is spreading amongst the garden.Anyone have any ideas of how to get rid of it!
TIA
jills3, Jan 2, 4:40am
Go over to the left, keyword oxalis, date posted last year.Heaps of replies over there.BUT I did listen to a gardening programme this morning on radio, and achap recommended Escort (think that was the name)
grannypam, Jan 2, 4:43am
I heard him as well but he also suggested using an additive to make the spray stick to the leaves a bit longer. Sprayfix maybe !

its a nightmare here too. Round up knocks it for a little while but it comes back with a vengeance.
Top answer
oh_hunnihunni, Jan 2, 4:45am
Watch for bees if adding sprayfix. It drowns them.

To kill oxalis (also known as wood sorrel or shamrock) with baking soda, follow these steps:

Mix one tablespoon of baking soda with one quart of water in a spray bottle.
Shake the spray bottle to thoroughly mix the baking soda and water.
Spray the mixture directly on the oxalis plants, making sure to coat the leaves and stems completely.
Repeat the spraying every few days until the oxalis plants die.
Note: Baking soda can be harmful to other plants, so be sure to only spray it on the oxalis plants and avoid getting it on any other vegetation. Additionally, baking soda can be harmful if ingested, so keep it out of reach of children and pets.
arabelle, Jan 2, 5:07am
What I heard on the radio talk back was to expect to have to spray /treat for 2-3 yrs before itfinally gives up.
what annoys me is that its coming in in all the compost and potting mix bags, or in the pots of plants being bought.I personally spray early spring [at first sprouting, and at the end of the summer. and that seems to hit. I only use the 'round-up'stuff, glycophosphate mix.
southislandswim, Jan 2, 7:29am
Thanks everyone will do the search jills3 thanks
and arabelle yes totally agree as I have filled one of my pots with new potting mix this year and its all in it again so I totally agree with you.
I have also looked up on line today and found a natural remendy I'll try 1 Tablespoon of Baking Soda with a squirt of washing liquid into 1 litre of water and you spray over. Especially on hot sunny days!So I'll give it a try as it is amongst our ground cover now and I dont want to kill all my good plants!
steptoesnr, Jan 2, 9:36pm
To successfully kill oxalis requires a systemic spray (a spray that travels through the whole plant) [glyphosate is one] to reach and kill the bulbs. For this systemic action to occur requires a good green top growth to absorb the chemical. You may have to repeat spray for bulbs that at spraying were detached from the targeted plants.
If you use any form of contact only spray [sodium bicarbonate is one such rather ineffective chemical- baking soda] you will certainly kill the foliage but the bulbs will simply and quickly send up new foliage.
No matter which chemical you use you will increase its efficacy if you add a surfactant (such as detergent) and increase its effectiveness even further by adding a penetrant (such as urea).
jag5, Jan 2, 9:42pm
Dig it out.gently.get the fork down as far as you can and lift the clump so as not to break bits off.clean.spray free, if that is your preference.years ago you used to be able to get the ground sterilised (steam I think) but not sure if it is still done.

Other option is to remake the garden and put down weed mat or similar then stones or bark.over time the bulbs will burn themselves out by not getting sunlight to regenerate.
bluesurge, Jan 3, 9:44am
Thank you, I was wondering why I suddenly had so much of it. I had weed sprayed and weed matted for 7 months and I let the soil breath for a month and nothing came up so I planted and now the patch is riddled with them way more than I had before.
I had new plants and new soil ,so from others have said I guess I bought more than I bargained for grrrr to the plant and soil shop
dms01, Jan 3, 10:08am
x1
baking soda honestly does work, I've used it
net_oz, Jan 3, 4:23pm
What brand of mix is it and have you contacted the manufacturer and told them!
sharon.nz, Jan 3, 7:35pm
Oxalis is one of those plants that you either love or hate depending on its value to you. A food producing garden nets more yeild when oxalis grows there, The plant supplies nutrients that can double your vege crop and possibly the leaf acts like a mulch shading the earth so it can aid your gardening.
Different for flower gardens tho. Unless you incorporate it into your 'picture'
Sifting the dirt through a soil sifter works but is labour intensive.
Round up is expensive but the black and white label weed spray concentrate at the Warehouse is EXECTLY the same ingredient as roundup in the same concentration but for a 3rd of the price
bluesurge, Jan 3, 9:31pm
x1
Sharon, I've just been googling the benefits of letting Oxalis grow and I can't find anything, nor can I see any valid reason for getting rid of it. then I saw your post where did you get your information!
zak410, Jan 12, 8:51pm
x1
No always practical, but chickens love the bulbs and will dig them out.