Garden overrun with oxalis
Last year I got a trailer load of manure and garden mix from a local landscape provider. I am alarmed to find that the garden is overrun with oxalis. As you know the bulbs are numerous. Will I have to pull out all my peony roses, winter roses camellias etc and start from scratch by spraying the affected garden plots with something other than my usual weed killer (which does not seem to have any effect)? Hoping to get some good advice about this dreadful problem.
How disappointing to find oxalis plants emerging at your property. It may well sound tedious, but physically removing the oxalis bulbs is the only comprehensive way of ridding the weed from your garden.
Divide the area where oxalis is found into one-metre squares (or similar size). Then shovel the soil onto a fine mesh sieve and shake - the oxalis bulbs are quite large and will be caught in the mesh.
Slowly work your way through the area where the oxalis is found in an endeavour to remove all the bulbs.
If you have children or friends, you could arrange a competition, who collects the most oxalis bulbs, wins a suitable prize!
Herbicides that kill oxalis can also kill surrounding vegetation, and there are significant soil residual issues. This means you may not be able to grow plants in the same location for a while. Discuss your options with your local garden centre if you choose to go down this route.
Another tip is to spread a thick layer of Daltons Premium Mulch and Feed it around plants in your garden to help suppress oxalis (and other weeds) growth by depriving them of light and moisture. Maintain good garden hygiene by removing weeds as soon as you notice them and before they spread.
