How Do You Kill Wild Violets In Lawns?
Violets have a pleasing purple color, but don’t be fooled. Wild violets (Viola pratincola) are a weed in lawns that spread via underground perennial roots, forming large colonies. The best prevention for any lawn weed is having thick grass that can suffocate anything else that tries to grow. But when violets do arise, they can be removed with diligence and chemical herbicide. Wait until the fall to apply herbicides to wild violets in your lawn. Don’t try to do it in the summer. According to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Service, violets should be targeted for control in fall as the plants take in herbicides more easily during the period they are preparing to go dormant. Pick out a spreadable herbicide containing dicamba or triclopyr. Read the label carefully, and be sure it’s approved for lawn use and lists violets as a target on which it is effective. Spread the herbicide when the grass is damp from dew or a recent rain to help the herbicide stick to the weeds’ leaves.
