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• Oxalis Weeds

  MUM_of_FLUFFY > 03-11-2022, 07:16 AM

  We've had torrential rain here for three weeks. We're not in a flood zone so we've been very fortunate. However the constant rain has caused weeds to start growing in Fluffy's enclosure. At first I suspected the weeds were a type of clover, but upon further investigation I was able to identify them as Oxalis. Clover and Oxalis look very similar, but Oxalis has a distinctive heart shaped leaf.
  
  Imagine my shock and horror when I discovered Oxalis has calcium oxalate crystals. I knew that calcium oxalate crystals can cause serious illness in cats (particularly male cats). I knew that a diet low in moisture (such as dry food fed exclusively) can contribute to calcium oxalate crystals in cats. It's why I've always made sure Fluffy has a pet fountain and access to wet food as well as dry food.
  
  But I had no idea oxalis weeds could pose a similar threat to his health. Thank goodness I was able to identify the plant and immediately take steps to remove it. I've spent the past few days weeding his enclosure. Oxalis is so hard to get out because it has to removed with the root ball intact and the tiny little bulbs attached. I never use herbicide (weed-killer) in his enclosure because I don't want to expose Fluffy to potentially poisonous chemicals.
  
  His cat grass is looking pretty dilapidated these days because I planted it in a long rectangular window-box type planter. He likes to lie on his cat grass and eat it in that position. So I bought some organic soil and filled a new pot with it. Just waiting for the seeds to arrive in the mail so I can plant them!!! Moving forward I think I will need a couple of pots of cat-grass so I can rotate them in and out of the enclosure...

• RE: Oxalis Weeds

  Codysmom > 03-12-2022, 01:23 PM

  I never knew that about Oxalis, they’re really pretty and we have loads of them growing in the garden too. We’ve also had a good year of rain this summer season.
  Thankfully they’re outside so no danger for my babies.

• RE: Oxalis Weeds

  HelenMac > 03-12-2022, 08:09 PM

  So glad you found it and was able to deal with it. Can you please send us some of your rain we are desperate before I loose anymore garden. I hear you about fluffy lying on the cat grass that is Zimba's favourite past time. I have one long trough and one smaller round pot with the cat grass and will also be doing a new trough once can get out again to get the organic potting mix and getting a new thicker artificial turf but with this raging covid here at present and a big surgery coming up we are housebound. We were fortunate when we put the enclosure up the patio was already concreted so we laid artificial turf for the boys to lie on which they seem to enjoy. We did 3/4 artificial turf and left 1/4 concrete. They do seem to like lying on the concrete in the evening and morning. You could always get the artifical turf and lay it on the floor of the enclosure if it becomes too much for you. Just lay black polethene first then the artificial turf over the top we get it from bunnings.

• RE: Oxalis Weeds

  MUM_of_FLUFFY > 03-12-2022, 09:58 PM

  (03-12-2022, 08:09 PM)HelenMac Wrote: So glad you found it and was able to deal with it. Can you please send us some of your rain we are desperate before I loose anymore garden.  I hear you about fluffy lying on the cat grass that is Zimba's favourite past time.  I have one long trough and one smaller round pot with the cat grass and will also be doing a new trough once can get out again to get the organic potting mix and getting a new thicker artificial turf but with this raging  covid here at present and a big surgery coming up we are housebound.  We  were fortunate when we put the enclosure up the patio was already concreted so we laid artificial turf for the boys to lie on  which they seem to enjoy.  We did 3/4 artificial turf and left 1/4 concrete.  They do seem to like lying on the concrete in the evening and morning. You could always get the artifical turf and lay it on the floor of the enclosure if it becomes too much for you.  Just lay black polethene first then the artificial turf over the top we get it from bunnings.

  
  I've got some artificial turf in one section of the enclosure and the oxalis can't get through that. I also have some pavers in the enclosure and the oxalis can't get through them either. For the moment I'm still hand weeding it out, but I think the smarter, less labour intensive solution would be to lay more artificial turf and/or more pavers. I planted native Australian violets in the enclosure because I knew violets were safe for cats (and it looks so pretty). But the oxalis is poking up where the violets are planted.
  
  This is Fluffy's tragic cat grass in the trough planter:
  
  
  
  You can see more of the enclosure in this one (the pavers, the violets and the edge of the artificial turf:
  
  
  
  Also - you can see just a little bit of his cat tunnel (which he adores!!!)
  
  Thanks for listening...and helping me brainstorm ideas to solve the problem....  
  
  Can't wait for the seeds to arrive so I can start another pot of cat-grass!!!!
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