African (or wood) violets have grown into a portion of my back yard. These migrated from another plant that was given to us from a neighbor. I don't want the violets in my grass. These things look really tough. Is there a way to kill them without harming the grass?

 

Hello Jimmy Nat

You don't say where you are writing from, but (field) violets and varieties such as Johnny Jump-ups and cultivated pansies are generally considered cool season annuals here in Canada - the problem comes from them being very prolific self-seeders.

If you can pull them out a few at a time (but before they go to seed), you'll eliminate a lot of next year's problems. Most violets are resistant to 2,4-D and mecoprop and are not listed as being controled by dicamba, so the usual lawn formulations of Killex and similar products would probably be a waste of time and product here.

Maybe someone else on this forum has a chemical solution for violets...

(I'm going to try to copy your post over to Gardens, too - maybe someone over there has had some luck controlling them...)

Good Luck

Howie

 

Howie,
Thanks for your response. So far, looks like I must get out the knee pads and go to it by hand. By the way I live in the Chicago area. Could you tell me what time of year the violets will seed?
Thanks, Jimmy Nat

 

Hi again Jimmy Nat

Hope others can help here... the viola that I'm familiar with blooms from early spring to mid summer, seems to be born pregnant (self pollinates and sets seed continually thru it's flowering period), and also has a habit that some of it's flowers are underground, so it also self sows...

Best advice I can give is just keep pulling them out...

Anyone else have some ideas?!?

Howie

 

Hi Jimmy,

My advice is the same as Howie's. Keep pulling them out, and try and get all the roots. We didn't used to have them, but we get leaves from others. Obviously the violets seeds were included. We crushed the leaves and used them as mulch, thereby planting vilolets ALL over the place.

On any plant, if you keep the top growth picked/cut off, the roots will eventually die because they need green leaves to give them nourishment. You could take a shovel and keep chopping off the leaves of the violets, but you have to be vigilent about it. Chop them off a little below soil level, and do it as soon as you see one leaf.

Good luck!

Gami

 

Thanks Gami,
I like your shovel idea. However, I will try a sharp hoe. It should be fast work in a short time. It seems that I can scrape the serface repeatedly to eliminate the leaves. I will bag the leaves for disposal as you suggest. Eventually, I plan to replant new grass in the bare spots.
I will try to get back to you-all with a few progress reports from time to time.
Thanks again for you help,
Jimmy Nat

 

the best herbicide for control of violets is probably one containing the active ingredient 'triclopyr' this is a slow acting (so be patient) very effective broadleaf selective herbicide so it won't kill your grass, this active ingredient is found in the ortho brand weed be gone labeled specifically for chickweed and clover,check the active ingredients before purchasing becuase ortho also makes a general purpous weed be gone which contains 2-4d and 2-4dp. look under the active ingredients and it should say... triclopyr... 8%,and if i remember correctly you mix it at 4 oz. / gal. but always read the entire label before applying and follow directions carefully. and remember this herbicide will damage/kill all broadleaf plants so do not alow spray drift to get on any of your ornamental plants.
ct. arborist

 

Ok, all you violet hunters, here you go!

I Got this from Just Gardeners forum posted by Snowbird.


"I have used borax solution to get rid of over growing wild violets in one of my flower beds. You can buy the borax at your neighborhood pharmacy in a powder form, it's usually quite cheap, cheaper anyway than any weed killer and also it's nature friendly in general.

Mix a solution of 1/2 cup of borax powder in one gallon of warm water + 3 teaspoons of dishwashing soap. Let the solution rest for a whole day, preferably in a sunny location with the container closed. On the next very hot sunny day just water the area with the mixture. You should see results in about two weeks.

In my case the process did not damage any other plants and even helped the roses around. Do not spray roses with solution. Three years ago now and they have not been back since in that area.

Borax sold in the laundry section of the grocery store is not as refined and has an added surfactant which helps the cleaning process. The borax bought at the pharmacy is a purer form of the metal. When you water the plants or the soil with a solution like the one I've described, it works in the same way the chelated mineral is found in most liquid fertilizers. Violets do not like Boron, which is the mineral in Borax and they usually go away in a relatively short time.

Use liquid dish soap and not liquid dish detergent as these are two different formulas and the detergent can be detrimental to plants."

Let me know how it works for you.
Newt

 

You're welcome, Jimmie.

Thanks ct arborist and Newt. They're pretty, but such a nuisance.

Gami

 

You're welcome Gami. I did price the boron at the pharmacy and I thought it was expensive. I have heard of others using the one from the grocery store with success. I will be trying the grocery store variety very soon and I'll try and remember to let you all know how it goes. I too have learned that they are a terrible pest.

Take care,
Newt