Controlling Wild Violet Weeds In The Lawn
One of the most difficult weeds to control in the lawn is wild violet. This native plant may look cute and dainty, especially in the spring when it produces pretty purple flowers. But in reality it is an aggressive weed with an unusual flowering quirk that results in thick mats of leaves that can choke out your lawn.
Wild violets are very tough plants that tolerate drought. But the ideal condition for them is moist soil, which this years above average rainfall has provided. This has resulted in vigorous growth and spreading of this weed.
In spring, wild violets produce their well-known purple flowers, which are often mowed off. But in summer violets can produce a different type of self-pollinating flower that stays below the leaves and produces seeds that are dropped in the surrounding area. These flowers will not be mowed off, allowing for a large amount of seeds to be spread. They also spread by underground stems. Using these two methods, they can eventually create dense colonies.
Wild violets can be controlled, but it does take some effort and repeat treatment. Fall is the ideal time to control wild violets as they will more readily move herbicides into the root system as they prepare for winter.
Selective broadleaf weed herbicides must list wild violet on the label to be effective. Bonide Chickweed Clover& Oxalis Killer is an option, or a product containing dicamba and triclopyr, but again it may take several applications to completely eradicate established plants.
Southern Ag Crossbow32 The Best For Pastures
The brush killer provides the brush and other woody plants with firm influence. You may also add this brush killer to hand-held sprayers utilizing all manner of sprayers from tractor-mounted versions.
Pros
- Not good for summer use
- Contains petroleum
Reportedly, this product is really effective at destroying pesky and unwanted species of leaves, bushes, and brambles. This component comes in a concentrated form-look under the label for directions for mixing.
Using Herbicides Chemicals To Kill Violets In Lawn
If larger parts of your lawn have been affected, you can kill the flowers systematically using broadleaf herbicides like Trimecor or Triclopyr. Triclopyr is mostly used by landscaping professionals, while Trimec is readily available at your local stores.
These herbicides will do the trick, but if the lawn is beyond saving, you can always kill the whole lawn and start afresh.
Also Check: Peat Moss New Grass Seed
Choosing A Lawn Care Company To Win The War On Tough Weeds
While it may feel like the battles against these weeds are never-ending, when you choose to work with a lawn care company that employs a long-term strategy against tough-to-control weeds like violets and ground ivy, then youll finally start to see some light at the end of the tunnel.
With the right approach, youll see these weeds lessening each year as your thick and healthy lawn fills in. Of course, when it comes to combating aggressive weeds, you absolutely must keep up with a proactive annual program. Even taking just one year off could land you right back in a mess. But with the right care, performed regularly, you can stop feeling like progress is hopeless and start seeing the results you desire.
Are you ready to have a thicker lawn and get rid of violets and ground ivy at your Allentown, Bethlehem, or Easton, PA home? Get in touch with us to get some free expert advice and learn more about our lawn care programs which include three lawn care pricing options.
Killing Violets In The Lawn
Getting rid of violets is no easy task. Hand-pulling violets wont get you very far due to their strong roots. Its very difficult to pull a violet without leaving at least some of the root in the ground, meaning its going to grow right back. Granular products dont work well on violets, either. Thats because not enough of the product will coat the leaves. Even if youre lucky enough to get a few flakes on the leaves, its not going to be effective enough to work.The key to killing violets in the lawn is a professional-grade broadleaf liquid herbicide that will stick to the leaves and ultimately knock wild violets back. This must be coupled with a long-term strategy, including spraying multiple times a year, particularly in the fall when certain products are able to be used in cooler temperatures.
In addition to spot treating the violets repeatedly from spring through fall, youll also want to focus on a lawn care program that encourages a healthy and thick lawn. Because violets thrive in sparse lawns, the thicker your lawn is, the more likely it will choke out these pesky weeds.
Thickening your lawn can be achieved with a program that incorporates regular fertilization, looks at improving the soil with necessary pH corrections, and includes aeration and overseeding every fall.
You May Like: How Much Does Trugreen Cost Per Month
How To Get Rid Of Wild Violets In Flower Beds
If wild violets are in your flower beds and not in your lawn, there are cheaper options to control wild violets. T-Zone is a selective herbicide which means that it will not hurt your lawn. However, if the wild violets are in your garden instead, a cheaper non-selective herbicide can be used. Since wild violets are tough weeds to kill and have waxy leaves, a non-selective brush killer is recommended. Roundup Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush Killer does an excellent job on tough to kill weeds like wild violets. Be careful when you use roundup to kill wild violets because the round-up will kill everything you spray it on!
Why Is Controlling Wild Violets So Difficult
Wild violets are cool season perennials that grow best in shady, moist soil. There are three problems with these tough little plants that make killing wild violets so difficult. Wild violets have two types of flowers the pretty purple ones that children gather for their mothers and the plain, unopened ones that shelter beneath leaves that protect them from most types of wild violet control. The purple flowers may be sterile. The flowers beneath the leaves are not only fertile, but self-fertilizing. They dont need to bloom to reproduce.
Thick clumps of underground stems, called rhizomes, store water so the plants can survive drought. When a gardener tries to kill wild violets in the lawn, the rhizomes survive and send forth new shoots.
Those lovely heart-shaped leaves pose the third problem in controlling wild violets. The waxy coating that gives the leaves their shine also prevents herbicides from penetrating the leaves.
Don’t Miss: Who Makes Greenworks
Helpful Products From Gardens Alive
Q. Mike: Violets are my problem. I don’t want to tear up my lawn and start over or use chemicals . What can I do to make these stubborn little weeds go away?
- —Peter in Rockville, Maryland
We can grow grass ‘OK’, but for some reason we can really grow violets. The lawn is being taken over by them. Removing them individually is extremely time consuming and the weed killer my husband uses only seems to encourage them. Do you have any advice?
- —Laurie in Severna Park, MD
I have a partially sunny front yard with decent grass, relatively few “normal” weeds, and a significant amount of violets. I keep the lawn mowed pretty high and only fertilize once a year in the spring. I heard that violets like acid soil, so I have tried over the years to regularly apply lime in the fall. I have also tried spraying several times with a strong mix of ‘Weed-B-Gon’, but that hasn’t worked either. What else can I do?
- —Brian in Pittsburgh
Mike: Help me get rid of wild violets. Commercial weed killers just don’t do the job.
- —Steve in St. Louis
A. No, they do not. In his classic book “Lawns”, Iowa State University Professor and frequent You Bet Your Garden turf grass advisor Nick Christians, Ph.D., writes that the waxy coating on their shiny leaves makes wild violets virtually invulnerable to chemical herbicides. : “They often survive when all other weeds in the lawn have been controlled.”
Type Of Herbicides For Wild Violets
For minor infestations, spot treatments of an herbicide that destroys all plants perform well, the drawback is brown patches dotting the grass.
Using granular herbicides for wider-range uses. To make sure that destroying wild violets is mentioned, be sure to check the mark. The products delivered with a garden hose attachment will destroy the plants, but regular applications will be sufficient to eliminate wild violets, as with other treatments.
You May Like: When Is The Best Time To Put Weed Killer On Your Lawn
Why Are Violets Growing In My Lawn
Violets establish well in shady, moist areas where turf is not vigorous and cannot out-compete violets and other weeds. Violets can also be a sign of thinning lawns overall, and can establish where lawns are mowed too short , competing with that lawns chances of growing thick and vigorous once more.
Are Wild Violets Safe
Yes. The flowers and leaves of these wild plants are edible and even have medical qualities for humans.
The leaves are high in vitamin A and C and are commonly used in European salads or as cooked greens, Shipman says. The flowers can be candied or tossed into a salad to add a pop of color and flavor. She suggests making violet syrup, tea, infused honey or sugared flowers as fun and delicious family activities.
Do keep in mind, however, that you should never ingest flowers or leaves that have been treated with chemical fertilizers or pesticides.
You May Like: Peat Moss Lawn
Factor Number One: Violets Have Two Kinds Of Flowers:
- The delicate purple ones that kids pluck and play around with, and
- The hidden unopened flower buds that reside underneath the leaves which shield from any harm.
The visible purple flowers are usually infertile, while the ones hiding under the leaves are highly fertile, and they can also self-pollinate and fertilize themselves Just imagine they dont have to flower to reproduce this is so weird! Right?
Help I Have Violets And Ground Ivy In My Lawn Info & Tips For Killing Tough Weeds
Ground ivy and violets in the lawn can be the cause of a major headache. It might seem as though every year you have more and more of these persistent weeds and no matter what you try, you cant seem to get rid of them.
Youre not just imagining it. The truth is, the aggressive nature of both ground ivy and violets makes these weeds two of the toughest to get rid of. Your fight against them can almost feel futile as they seem to fight back harder. When it comes to getting rid of ground ivy and violets, youll want to take the mentality of losing the battle but winning the war to heart. Its going to be a long road, but the right treatment approach by a professional can get you there.
Also Check: Lowes Mower Rental
Will Boiling Water Kill Wild Violets
Even though boiling water kills wild violets, but can you imagine using it on a large lawn. Its only feasible on a small scale, lets say your small backyard lawn.
While violet flowers may look beautiful on your lawn -with their mesmerizing purplish blooms, violets are invasive weeds that will vigorously invade your grass if left unchecked. Furthermore, these are yearly weeds, which means if the issue is not solved, they will be back next year and the year after.
But dont worry, as explained above there are numerous methods you have learnt on how to kill violets In the Lawn.
How Do I Get Rid Of Wild Violets In My Lawn
I have an invasion of wild violets in my lawn. What should I do to get rid of them?
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but once violets have established a foothold in your lawn, they are extremely difficult to get rid of. Unfortunately, we have no good selective herbicide for violets. The trimec sprays may temporarily slow them down, but they usually bounce right back. Try using Roundup, a nonselective product. If the violets are just getting started, spraying small areas of the lawn and reseeding those areas after the kill is complete is an option. Another option is to paint the Roundup solution on the violets, avoiding the grass as much as possible. Since Roundup is absorbed through the leaves , this is an effective approach that does little harm to the grass. On the other hand, if the violets have invaded a larger area of your lawn, you have to make a decision: 1) kill both the grass and violets and start over, 2) if you are very patient, paint every violet leaf in sight, or 3) learn to live with the violets . The third option may work for naturalists, but lawn purists would be appalled!
Since it is difficult, if not impossible, to hold these violets captive, do not plant them in the first place unless their spread is your goal. If they do escape to your lawn, the earlier you attempt to bring them under control, the more successful you will be in getting rid of them.
Don’t Miss: Does Lowes Rent Riding Lawn Mowers
How Do You Get Rid Of Violets In Your Lawn
lawnvioletsthethe lawn
Use a broadleaf killer that contains 2,4-D or Dicamba, and it will selectively kill the violets without damaging the grass. Another great wild violet herbicide is called Drive .
One may also ask, how do you kill violets naturally? Creating a homemade weed killer to control wild violets requires mixing horticulture vinegar with water. You can use a ratio of 80 percent water and 20 percent vinegar. This homemade wild violet weed herbicide has an 80-percent control rate over most broadleaf weeds when sprayed on the offending plant’s foliage.
Herein, will vinegar kill wild violets?
Getting Rid of Wild Violets. Use vinegar on them. It will kill them in a day or two. Put pure vinegar in a bottle that you can control the spray and spray only the violets.
How do violets spread?
But in summer violets can produce a different type of self-pollinating flower that stays below the leaves and produces seeds that are dropped in the surrounding area. These flowers will not be mowed off, allowing for a large amount of seeds to be spread. They also spread by underground stems.
How Do I Kill Wild Violets In My Lawn
4.7/5thecontrol the wild violetsweedkill the violetsthe grasswild violet herbicideabout it here
Getting Rid of Wild Violets. Use vinegar on them. It will kill them in a day or two. Put pure vinegar in a bottle that you can control the spray and spray only the violets.
One may also ask, will roundup for lawns kill wild violets? In Landscape & Flower BedsKill wild violets growing in your landscape and flower beds with Roundup® Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass Killer III with Sure Shot® Wand. Just like wild violets growing in the lawn, the best time of year to treat them is in the fall when the active ingredient is quickly moved to the root system.
In this regard, how do you kill wild violets naturally?
Creating a homemade weed killer to control wild violets requires mixing horticulture vinegar with water. You can use a ratio of 80 percent water and 20 percent vinegar. This homemade wild violet weed herbicide has an 80-percent control rate over most broadleaf weeds when sprayed on the offending plant’s foliage.
When should I spray wild violet?
Using herbicide to eradicate wild violets is best undertaken in the fall. At this time, the herbicide will be transported down to the taproot as the plant stores nutrients for winter. Thus, you have a good chance of the herbicide killing the plant all the way down to ground level with a fall application.
Don’t Miss: How To Estimate Lawn Mowing Jobs
Ortho Weed B Gon Chickweed Killer The Best For Rainproof Protection
The best herbicides for lawns can actually be this commodity. It destroys stubborn lawn weeds of several varieties, such as field ivy, chickweed, pesky oxalis, and more. Right down at the root level, the weeds are destroyed, but there is no hope they can rise again.
Pros
- For use only on warm and windless days
- Not safe for vegetable or ornamentals
- Can be dangerous to humans and pets
It is quick to use the product. It comes in two forms: a powdered liquid that can be blended at home and sprayed using a tank sprayer, or a ready-mixed kind that is much easier to use and easily attaches to your garden hose and does not need premixing.
These Delicate Blooming Plants Can Be A Challenge To Banish From Your Yard Here’s How To Rid Your Lawn Of This Pretty Yet Pesky Perennial
There are many types of wild violet species, some native and others European and Asian invaders, but all grow primarily in the northern regions of the U.S. You can recognize these flowering perennials by their early spring blossoms and heart-shaped, waxy leaves. Most commonly the five-petaled flowers are deep purple, but they can also be white, speckled or yellow.
This tenacious little plant might be considered a bothersome weed by some, says expert gardener Em Shipman of KidsGardening.org.But overall, it has many benefits to humans, animals and pollinators. Read on to learn all you need to know about this common weed and how to keep it from taking over your lawn.
On This Page
Don’t Miss: Does Lowes Rent Riding Lawn Mowers
When To Get Rid Of Wild Violets
Using herbicide to eradicate wild violets is best undertaken in the fall. At this time, the herbicide will be transported down to the taproot as the plant stores nutrients for winter. Thus, you have a good chance of the herbicide killing the plant all the way down to ground level with a fall application. If you use herbicide in the spring or summer, it might only temporarily kill the surface leaves, allowing the plant to rebound.
