Identifying and Managing Sheep Sorrel in Your Garden

What Is Sheep Sorrel?

Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) is a perennial weed that often invades garden beds and ground covers like English ivy. It spreads aggressively through seeds and underground rhizomes, forming dense mats that can choke out desirable plants.

Recognizing the Plant

Look for arrow‑shaped leaves with a distinctive tangy, lemony flavor—some gardeners even add young leaves to salads. The plant produces slender, reddish flowering stems in late spring to summer.

Sheep Sorrel vs. English Ivy

In shady areas, English ivy usually outcompetes sheep sorrel because ivy is highly shade‑tolerant while sorrel prefers more light. However, in full sun the sorrel can become quite vigorous and may give the ivy serious competition.

Control Strategies That Spare Your Ivy

Because ivy leaves are thick and waxy, they resist many herbicides better than sorrel. A targeted approach can tip the balance:

1. Test a small patch: Apply a half‑strength broadleaf weed killer (such as Weed‑B‑Gon) to an area where both plants grow together.
2. Observe for three weeks: The sorrel should show more damage than the ivy.
3. Repeat if effective: If the test confirms selective damage, reapply every six weeks until the sorrel is under control.

Always follow label instructions and avoid spraying on windy days to prevent drift.

Additional Resources

• DGS Gardening – Sorrel Information
• Wildman Steve Brill – Sorrel Profile