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Yellow Woodsorrel (Oxalis) Biology and Management in Turf1

J. Bryan Unruh, Ramon G. Leon, and Darcy E. P. Telenko 2

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 attached 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 1. 

Figure 2. 
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, prodiamine+isoxaben

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

St. Augustinegrass

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

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

Centipedegrass

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

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

Bahiagrass

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

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

Seashore Paspalum

  • Preemergence: dithiopyr, indaziflam, oxadiazon, pendamethalin, prodiamine+isoxaben

  • Postemergence: carfentrazone, penoxsulam+sulfentrazone+dicamba+2,4-D, sulfentrazone, sulfentrazone+quinclorac

Zoysiagrass

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

  • Postemergence: atrazine, bromoxynil, carfentrazone, 2,4-D+dicamba, dicamba, imazaquin, metsulfuron, penoxsulam+sulfentrazone+dicamba+2,4-D, 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, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date June 2009. Revised February 2013 and April 2016. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu.
2. J. Bryan Unruh, professor, Environmental Horticulture Department; Ramon G. Leon, assistant professor, Agronomy Department; and Darcy E. P. Telenko, former postdoctoral research associate; UF/IFAS West Florida Research and Education Center, Jay, FL 32565.