Soursob

What is the best way to kill soursob in the lawn and garden beds with out spraying glyphosate. I have managed to stop them in my back garden by pulling them out by hand but the front garden is a nightmare at the moment. Any advice that will save my back would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments

Andy_Mann

@geejaybee

I read somewhere recently that an effective method is weeding them just before they flower, which gets them at their most vulnerable, & upsets their life cycle.

We were inundated with Soursobs in our yard, so I dilligently eased them out (rather than snapping them at ground level) over a few years, & they rarely come up at all now.

I hand weeded our lawns too, so they aren't a problem either, but apparently mowing them only impedes their growth, & doesn't eradicate them.

greygardener

@geejaybee

It's very difficult to kill Soursob because of its bulbs. Digging them out is the most effective method but obviously very difficult and time consuming. You have to lift out the entire plant and bulbs and be very gentle so that you don't leave anything behind which will just sprout again. I have also read another suggestion for your lawn areas - not let them grow to flowering stage and then mow them off, trying to get as little of the lawn as possible, repeating it once a week. This attacks the weed at its weakest stage. Hopefully then as your lawn roots establish, they will suffocate the soursobs, resulting in them dying.

Isobel

Yes, make sure you get the bulbs - they are usually 4-6cm below the surface. The worst thing you can do is to cultivate the area as this spreads the bulbs around. If you do spray with weed killer the timing is important - just before they are about to flower. You could try boiling water but you will damage other nearby plants and kill the poor little worms. I've also seen people suggesting putting down a thick layer of newspaper followed by garden mulch but I think this would only work after pulling most of them out by hand.

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1330#Comment_1330

@Isobel @greygardener

Excellent replies.

Silly me, I forgot to mention that I use a weeder:

https://www.bunnings.com.au/fiskars-aluminium-weeder_p3360133

to lift the area around & under the bulb, then delicately ease out the intact bulb.

My timing's never been all that precise, I just wait until they're large enough to remove easily, but way before flowering.

That newspaper & mulch thing will work even if the area's not been weeded before, but it'll take a year, & everything else is suffocated along with it, so it's hardly a garden maintenance way of doing it. ; )

CathD

Good luck @geejaybee. It is very hard to remove but I'm sure if you are persistent and patient you can do it.

geejaybee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1332#Comment_1332

Looks like it bad back ("ouch") time again, thanks all for your insight into these annoying weeds !

CathD

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/62955#Comment_62955

Yes, it can be tough work on the back @geejaybee. I'd recommend methodically and persistently doing small areas - one step at a time.

Here's an image of the weed in case others aren't aware of how to identify it.

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/93961#Comment_93961

This came to my Inbox, courtesy of a Jon Lamb newsletter, & may be helpful:

http://www.paulmunnsinstantlawn.com.au/blog/soursobs/

Dave80

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/113290#Comment_113290

Hey guys further to the great advice so far, you could get your hands on a broad leaf weed killer such as Bin-Die or Yates bindii and clover killer if your not dead set against spraying them ........ the broad leaf killer wont harm the lawn because it's a targeted weed killer unlike glysophate.

Isobel

Have you had any luck @geejaybee?

geejaybee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/1673#Comment_1673

Only sort of, I have sat out there pulling them by hand but unfortunately it has rained so much I have trouble getting out there. But i do now have a 6meter tall gum tree collapsed in the back yard crushing quite a few grevillias with it. But that happens when you get 100km+ winds.

QuailFlock

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/63115#Comment_63115

Persistence is the key word.
Each week, for 5 years, I have been digging out the soursob in a small area in the garden. This area is now free of soursobs! Pure will power!

geejaybee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/94069#Comment_94069

It would seem that I have pulled out all the soursob from the front yard, all 30+ square meters. Now all I have to do is wait for next season to see how many reappear and do it all again. Thankyou to everyone for your responses to the nuisance problem!

Andy_Mann

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/113376#Comment_113376

Well done@geejaybee, it does take time & patience, but at the end of the weed session, it looks amazing & fires you up for the next weed season.

I get a real buzz out of looking over the weed free area when I'm done, knowing that next season will be easier, & another step closer to eradicating them.

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/113376#Comment_113376

Great job @geejaybee! I'm sure all the hard work will be worth it.

Jason

CathD

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/113376#Comment_113376

Well done. I'm sure if you keep at it you will win the battle.

aussiblue

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/124264#Comment_124264

I find this weeder better https://www.bunnings.com.au/fiskars-xact-4-prong-weed-puller_p2970049 ; certainly saves the back and is very effective. Works on the winter-grass, dandelions, bindi, flatweed etc as well. Note there are 2 models at the same price; the newer one has the golf club shaped handle and carbon fibre composite foot piece (rather than plastic which more easily breaks). I am really hanging out for the weeder equivalent to the robovac though as I hate gardening and loath weeding.

QuailFlock

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/124215#Comment_124215

Good news, no more hard work killing the weeds. Apparently they are edible!!
Someone was harvesting the weeds in a patch near the playground and told me they are a delicacy, then I find this proof -
http://www.gcc.mass.edu/permacultureblog/2013/08/28/wait-you-can-eat-that/

Kermit

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/131559#Comment_131559

I think I'll pass @QuailFlock.

I'm always shocked when I go past those juice bars and see people lining up for those grass drinks...

geejaybee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/131559#Comment_131559

@QuailFlock please feel free next soursob season to come around to my place and munch your heart out ! 🙂

geejaybee

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/136000#Comment_136000

So after finally hand pulling all the soursob out of my front garden, I have now moved from Adelaide to Mount Gambier where I can start all over again! 🙂

Jason

https://www.workshop.bunnings.com.au/discussion/comment/139084#Comment_139084

Looking forward to hearing about your new place @geejaybee. Have you got many projects on the to-do list?

Jason

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