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Publication #ENH1124

 

Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis) Biology and Management in Turf1

J. Bryan Unruh, Darcy E. P. Telenko, Barry J. Brecke, and Ramon Leon2

Yellow woodsorrel (Oxalis stricta) is an upright, herbaceous perennial with hairy stems. Leaves are alternate and divided into three partly folded, deeply cut, heart-shaped lobes. Flowers are bright yellow with five petals on stalks bent below the fruit and attaching to a common point. Fruit are narrow, "okra-like" capsules. Florida yellow woodsorrel (O. florida) is similar in appearance to yellow woodsorrel, but has slenderer stems, larger leaves, and a smooth to sparingly hairy, smaller capsule. Reproduction occurs via seed.

Figure 1. 

Figure 2. 

Herbicide options for controlling yellow woodsorrel in Florida turfgrass

(Always refer to the label for specific uses, application rates and turfgrass tolerance)

Bermudagrass

  • Preemergence: dithiopyr, indaziflam, isoxaben, napropamide, oxadiazon, pendamethalin

  • Postemergence: bromoxynil, carfentrazone, 2,4-D+dicamba, dicamba, imazaquin, metsulfuron, metribuzin, sulfentrazone, sulfentrazone+quinclorac, thiencarbazone+iodosulfuron+dicamba, thiencarbazone+floramsulfuron+halosulfuron, triclopyr +clopyralid, trifloxysulfuron

St. Augustinegrass

  • Preemergence: atrazine, dithiopyr, indaziflam, isoxaben, napropamide, oxadiazon, pendamethalin

  • Postemergence: atrazine, bromoxynil, carfentrazone, 2,4-D+dicamba (follow label recomendations to minimize turf injury), imazaquin, metsulfuron, sulfentrazone, thiencarbazone+iodosulfuron+dicamba

Centipedegrass

  • Preemergence: atrazine, dithiopyr, indaziflam, isoxaben, napropamide, pendamethalin

  • Postemergence: atrazine, bromoxynil, carfentrazone, 2,4-D+dicamba, dicamba, imazaquin, mesotrione, metsulfuron, clopyralid, sulfentrazone, sulfentrazone+quinclorac, thiencarbazone+iodosulfuron+dicamba, triclopyr +clopyralid

Bahiagrass

  • Preemergence: dithiopyr, indaziflam, isoxaben, napropamide, pendamethalin

  • Postemergence: bromoxynil, carfentrazone, 2,4-D+dicamba, dicamba, triclopyr, sulfentrazone, triclopyr +clopyralid

Seashore paspalum

  • Preemergence: dithiopyr, indaziflam, oxadiazon, pendamethalin

  • Postemergence: carfentrazone, sulfentrazone, sulfentrazone+quinclorac

Zoysiagrass

  • Preemergence: atrazine, dithiopyr, indaziflam, isoxaben, oxadiazon, pendamethalin

  • Postemergence: atrazine, bromoxynil, carfentrazone, 2,4-D+dicamba, dicamba, imazaquin, metsulfuron, sulfentrazone, sulfentrazone+quinclorac, thiencarbazone+iodosulfuron+dicamba, triclopyr+clopyralid, trifloxysulfuron

Perennial ryegrass

  • Preemergence: oxadiazon

  • Postemergence: bromoxynil, carfentrazone, 2,4-D+dicamba, dicamba, sulfentrazone, sulfentrazone+quinclorac, triclopyr +clopyralid

Refer to the publication Pest Control Guide for Turfgrass Managers at http://turf.ufl.edu/pdf/2012_UF_Pest_Control_Guide.pdf for brand names associated with chemical names listed.

Footnotes

1.

This document is ENH1124, one of a series of the Environmental Horticulture Department, Florida Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida. Original publication date June 2009. Revised February 2013. Visit the EDIS website at http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.

2.

J. Bryan Unruh, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Darcy E. P. Telenko, postdoctoral research associate; Barry J. Brecke, professor, and Ramon Leon, assistant professor, Agronomy Department; West Florida Research and Education Center, Cooperative Extension Service, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, 32611.

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Nick T. Place, Dean.