We had Oxalis weed on our gravel on the back garden and it was around my lavender balls and someone recommended burning it away, oh yes and the fume in take nearly choked me plus the side of the lavender started to burn...so they was totally removed and all the dirt came up to remove the rooting as you can see and it was lined with polythene bags and new pea gravel and just one new plant went in each side of the boarder...it's still reappearing now between the slabs at times, so it must be underneath the slabs and gravel.
It is reckoned to be one of the most widespread and pernicious weeds. Now to be found all over the world. Burning does not really kill it completely, unless you really heat up the soil to a very high temperature. Sadly the only way is constant vigilance and the weed killer spray. Do not let it flower. The seed pods explode and send the microscopic seeds all over the place. Pulling it up is not much better as there are tiny bulbils on the roots which come off and get left behind.
Thank you Palustris, I actually think it's running riot underneath the slabs and pops up where it want to. I have Weed killer down the garden and as soon as I see it, it will get removed
Most people do not consider Oxalis a weed ! I have it everywhere in my yard. It forms beautiful round clumps covered in flowers and will last till mid summer even in Texas heat. You can mow it down after the first run of blooms and it faithfully returns. When they said to burn it out,, I think they meant with a small propane torch,, not a large fire !
It does look nice on the gravel but it always seems to come by my plants and I actually did think it was a flower I did use a small propane torch but because it was underneath the lavender plant itself, it got caught as hubby told me a couple of times on how to direct it, so it's my fault
It may be ok to leave it in Texas where there is plenty of room, but here in Britain, it spreads into other plants and chokes them so you end up with just the Oxalis and nothing else.
Well at the moment the main places it shows is the slabs and i'll apply the weed killer as you mentioned
The confusion comes because there are various types of Oxalis. Those that have bulbs as their root structure are more often cultivated than unappreciated. These often or even usually have pink or white flowers. A few examples: O. crassipes: https://www.gardenstew.com/plantstew/9002543 O. debilis: https://www.gardenstew.com/plantstew/29071 O. triangularis: https://www.gardenstew.com/plantstew/9000642 It is those that are rhizomatous/stoloniferous, with root structures of taproots and rhizomes or stolons that are more often unappreciated. These do not have bulbs or bulbils. These weedy ones have yellow flowers. O. stricta: https://www.gardenstew.com/plantstew/29095 That plant can get surprisingly tall. The similar O. corniculata is a more prostrate plant. I think the plant pictured above here is O. corniculata. https://oregonstate.edu/dept/nursery-weeds/weedspeciespage/OXALIS/oxalis_roots.html If a previous plant of O. stricta or corniculata is allowed to make and let its' seeds loose (through explosive dehiscence, as mentioned above) seeds will continue to sprout in the area until they are used-up.
I knew there were other types but have never seen the weed type ! I can see now why its not a keeper. Thanks for the info.
Hello @purpleinopp I think it's this one and thank you for info...as the roots came out the ground like it but darker in colour.
