Creeping woodsorrel (Oxalis corniculata)

Most herbicides provided excellent creeping woodsorrel control. Control with Kansel+ was limited compared to all other herbicides, but was better than nothing (control).

My experiments (this and others) along with the observations of other weed scientist have concluded that creeping woodsorrel is easy to control from seed. Most herbicides are very effective. But many nurseries have reported difficulty with this species, and it is one of the most common weeds in nursery containers throughout the United States.

So why is there such a discrepancy with research trials and what is reported from nursery producers? It is probably because creeping woodsorrel is a perennial weed that readily regrows from deep taproots and severed stolons. Hand-pulling creeping woodsorrel does not likely remove the entire plant, leaving root fragments in the container to regrow.

My trials evaluate the ability of herbicides to control creeping woodsorrel from seed. However, I suspect that lack of control observed in the nursery is from the inability of herbicides to control plants regenerating from underground root fragments.

The solution is to remove weeds more thoroughly before re-applying preemergence herbicides. I know that's not easy, but that's the situation.

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