How Do I Kill Those Little Purple Violets That Are…
Janice Asked
How do I kill those little purple violets that are in our yard?
The Gardener’s Answer
Hello, Janice in Kentucky: Wild violets are perennial broadleaf weeds that spread by underground rhizomes. Eliminating them from the lawn can be a daunting task and your lawn may never be violet-free, but keeping them under control is the goal. It may take a couple of years to get rid of most of the violets, but keeping the numbers down will help reduce new ones from popping up next year. The best way to keep the population down is to dig them up as soon as you notice them. This way they do not have a chance to flower and set seed. Unfortunately, they have already flowered and set seed this year: when the grass was mowed the seeds were spread, so keep an eye out for new plants throughout the growing season and next spring. Hand digging is the most effective means of elimination because it removes the root system as well as any potential flowers. I realize this is quite a task and depending on the space involved, hand digging may not be feasible. Wild violets have a waxy coating on the foliage that protects them against many common organic and chemical sprays. Using an herbicide containing 2,4-D
(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid) in combination with Triclopyr (Turflon or Weed-B-Gone) once in the spring as the foliage emerges and again in the fall will help reduce the population. Be sure to read and follow all recommendations when spraying any product in the lawn/garden.
