Common sorrel is a pretty cool wild herb when it’s tossed in a fresh salad, whether you foraged it from a meadow or grew it yourself. But here’s the thing: in the garden, this plant can go from “tasty treat” to “total nuisance” fast. It spreads like wildfire, and most homeowners aren’t exactly thrilled to see it popping up in the middle of their pristine turf.
Sorrel in the Lawn
When you’ve got a lush, deep green lawn right next to your patio, any wildflower or weed that hitches a ride sticks out like a sore thumb. You might be okay with a few daisies or some speedwell, but sorrel is usually where people draw the line. This edible wild plant is easy to spot thanks to its rosette-shaped leaves. If you miss those, you definitely won’t miss the tall flower stalks with their reddish flower clusters that shoot up later on.
You really want to take action before those flower stalks get too tall. Once sorrel is in full bloom, it drops seeds everywhere, meaning you’ll be dealing with a whole army of baby sorrel plants all over your lawn next season.
Plus, sorrel doesn’t just spread by seed—it spreads underground, too. Once those roots get established, digging them out becomes a real workout.
How to Get Rid of Sorrel
If you’re looking to clear it out, you’ve got a few options:
- Chemical weed killers
- Preventing self-seeding
- Digging out the roots
- Using a specialized dock lifter (sorrel spade)
Chemical Options
You can use chemical herbicides like Roundup to get rid of stubborn sorrel, but honestly, there are a lot of downsides. While they’re easy to use and effective, they’ll often kill the grass surrounding the weed, too. If you go this route, you have to follow the manufacturer’s instructions to a T. These chemicals are toxic—you don’t want them on your skin or in your lungs. Also, if you have a veggie garden nearby, any overspray or fumes can make your crops unsafe to eat, and the same goes for grass where pets might graze.
Preventing Self-Seeding
The simplest “low-effort” move is to snip off the flower stalks as soon as they appear. This stops the plant from blooming and dropping seeds, which at least keeps the problem from getting worse next year.
Digging Out the Roots
The most reliable way to get rid of it is to grab a spade or, even better, a specialized dock lifter tool. If the plant is young and the roots aren’t too deep yet, regular weeding with a hand tool works great. However, be warned: sorrel roots can actually reach up to five feet deep! If you’re dealing with an old, established plant, you’ll likely need a full-sized shovel to get the job done.
