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Invasive yellow wildflower that comes back every year into our yard and flower beds #749330

Asked May 11, 2021, 2:42 PM EDT

Hello: About 6 years ago a yellow flowering plant sprouted in one of our flowerbeds. It has since spread to a very large portion of our lawn and tree grove--each year it comes back in a larger area--sprouts in early spring and dies down in late May. We now use TruGreen to try and get rid of the weed. We found a few of these yellow flowers now spreading to our front lawn, so we literally sprayed Roundup to kill our back yard grass (TruGreen did say they can just knock it down--their chemicals would not prevent it from coming back and they recommended we re-do the lawn). My question is: before I spend a lot of money re-seeding my lawn, how can I guarantee the invasive weed won't come back? What is the best course of action? Thank you!

Clackamas County Oregon

Expert Response

Thank you for your question, Julie.  Re you able to take a closeup photo of the flower, and one of a stem with leaves?  Does it have below-ground roots (rhizomes) that it uses to keep growing?  Thank you for more information!

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 11, 2021, 7:08 PM EDT

Julie:  we are working with a new system.  Can you send me a photo of the flower, closeup?  Is the plant spreading through rhizomes (that look like roots) in the soil?  Thank you!

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 11, 2021, 10:33 PM EDT
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On Tue, May 11, 2021 at 7:33 PM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 12, 2021, 1:31 PM EDT

Thank you.  I still cannot see a flower well enough to count the petals.  Can you please tell me how many each flower has?

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 12, 2021, 2:02 PM EDT
Here’s a close up 
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On Wed, May 12, 2021 at 11:04 AM Julie Dod <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
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Hi there - it looks anywhere from 6 to 10 petals

On Wed, May 12, 2021 at 11:02 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 12, 2021, 2:10 PM EDT
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Hi there - it looks anywhere from 6 to 10 petals

On Wed, May 12, 2021 at 11:02 AM Ask Extension <<personal data hidden>> wrote:
The Question Asker Replied May 12, 2021, 2:10 PM EDT

Thank you.  I believe this is your culprit:  http://cels.uri.edu/docslink/ceoc/documents/figbuttercup_2010.pdf  I am uncertain why glyphosate (sold as Roundup) did not kill it, bit it may have been applied at the wrong time.  Getting all of the roots and bulblets out is key, and I would think reseeding your lawn will just be a waste of time and money unless and until you can kill every bit of it.  Good luck!

An Ask Extension Expert Replied May 12, 2021, 6:23 PM EDT

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