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If you’re a homeowner with a garden or a lawn, chances are you’ve encountered wild violets, also known as Viola sororia. These perennials, while beautiful, are known for their invasive nature and can quickly take over a lawn if left unchecked. Their flowers range in color from dark purple to almost blue and their leaves maintain a dark green hue year-round. They are very popular with pollinators like bees and butterflies which means there are many scenarios where folks promote and encourage wild violets to thrive.

However, there are also plenty of homeowners, gardeners, businesses, turf managers, and the like who prefer to not have this species taking over. Here, we will break down how to identify, remove, and prevent these tenacious plants.

Identifying Wild Violets

Wild violets are easily identifiable due to their unique characteristics. They have heart-shaped leaves that are often a deep, glossy green. The flowers are what really stand out, typically a vibrant purple or blue, sometimes white, with five delicate petals that bloom in the spring. If you spot a plant matching this description in your lawn, you’ve found wild violet. 

Removing Wild Violets

Removing wild violets is a bit tricky due to their resilient nature. They have a strong root system that allows them to survive typical lawn mowing and even some herbicides. Here are some steps you can take to effectively remove them from your lawn:

1. Hand Pulling: This method works best when the soil is moist, perhaps after a rainfall. Simply grip the plant at its base near the soil line and pull gently but firmly. Try to get as much of the root out as you can, as leaving any behind can result in new growth. However, in situations where you have more than a few clumps growing, hand pulling is likely going to be a futile effort. Because of how wild violets spread (underground lateral roots called rhizomes), large colonies will often repopulate themselves very quickly if not fully removed.
2. Herbicides: When hand pulling isn’t effective or practical due to the number of violets, a selective broadleaf herbicide can help without having a negative impact on your grass. Always read the label and make sure to choose a selective herbicide specific to your species of grass. Broadleaf herbicides that contain 2,4-D, Dicamba, or Quinclorac will selectively control the wild violet without damaging your grass. Scroll to the bottom of this blog post for popular recommendations.
3. It’s also important to note that the leaves of wild violets have a waxy leaf surface that makes it difficult to get any herbicide treatment to stick and be absorbed by the plants. A spreader-sticker surfactant should be added to your mix to ensure adhesion and reduce the number of treatments needed. It is very rare for just one treatment to be enough to completely control a patch of wild violet. Be sure to follow the treatment schedule outlined in the label of whichever herbicide products you choose to use. Most professionals recommend treating wild violet in the fall when the plant is not actively growing for the most effective control.
4. Professional Lawn Care Service: If all else fails, or if the task seems too daunting, consider hiring a professional lawn care service. They have the tools and knowledge to tackle stubborn plants like the wild violet. In cases of extreme infestation, completely removing the sod and reestablishing a new lawn may be the only practical remedy.

Preventing Wild Violets

Prevention is always better than cure, and this is especially true with wild violets. Here’s how you can prevent them from invading your lawn in the first place:

1. Maintain a Healthy Lawn: wild violets thrive in thin, nutrient-poor soil. By keeping your lawn thick and healthy, you can prevent these invaders from taking hold. Regularly water and fertilize your lawn, and make sure to reseed any thin or bare spots.
2. Water with Intention: Over-watering is wasteful and wild violets prefer soil that is moist and full of water. If you use automatic irrigation, make sure that you’re only watering early in the morning and allowing the surface-level water a chance to either be absorbed or evaporate during the day. Watering at night keeps the soil soggy for extended periods of time and welcomes even more troublesome infestations (like various forms of fungus).
3. Mow High: Set your mower’s blade height to the proper length for your species of grass. Tall grass is healthier and can outcompete wild violets and many other plants that you may not want to grow in your lawn. Also, keep in mind, if you miss a mow or just accidentally let it get too long, avoid cutting more than 1/3 of the length of the grass blades. This may mean you have to cut some and then cut down to your preferred height a few days later to get back on schedule.
4. Apply Pre-emergent Herbicide: These types of herbicides work by preventing weed seeds from germinating. Apply pre-emergents in the early spring before the violets have a chance to sprout.

Wild violets may be a nuisance, but with a little effort and know-how, you can keep your lawn free from these purple invaders. Remember, the key to a beautiful lawn is regular maintenance and swift action at the first sign of trouble. Happy gardening!

Ragweed, a common and unwelcome guest in many lawns, is a notorious trigger for seasonal allergies. If you’re tired of sneezing and itching your way through the warmer months, it’s time to take action against this pesky plant. This blog post will help you understand how to identify ragweed and offer simple, effective ways to control its growth in your lawn.

Identifying Ragweed

Ragweed can be easily confused with other plants, so proper identification is crucial. Here’s what you should look for:

Controlling Ragweed in Your Lawn

Once you’ve identified ragweed in your lawn, it’s time to focus on control and prevention. Here are some simple, effective methods to control its growth:

1. Leaves: Ragweed leaves are green and fern-like in appearance. They are usually divided into several smaller leaflets, which give them a lacy, delicate look.
2. Stems: The stems of ragweed plants are green and slightly hairy, with some red or purple streaks.
3. Flowers: Ragweed blooms from late summer to early fall, producing small, greenish-yellow flowers. These flowers are grouped in clusters at the top of the plant, resembling tiny spikes or cones.
4. Size: Ragweed typically grows to a height of 1 to 5 feet, depending on the species and growing conditions.

1. Mowing: Regularly mowing your lawn is one of the most effective ways to keep ragweed at bay. Set your mower to a height of 2 to 3 inches, as taller grass can better compete with ragweed and prevent its establishment.
2. Fertilizing: A well-fertilized lawn promotes healthy grass growth, which can outcompete ragweed. Apply a slow-release fertilizer according to the product instructions to give your grass the nutrients it needs to thrive.
3. Watering: Water your lawn deeply and infrequently to encourage deep root growth in your grass. This will help your grass withstand ragweed competition more effectively.
4. Overseeding: Overseeding your lawn with a high-quality grass seed can help fill in bare spots and create a dense turf, leaving little room for ragweed to grow.
5. Chemical control: If other methods aren’t enough, consider using a selective herbicide specifically designed to target ragweed. Always follow the product instructions carefully and apply it during the early stages of ragweed growth for the best results.

Ragweed may be a sneeze-inducing nuisance, but with proper identification and control methods, you can keep this pesky plant at bay in your lawn. By mowing, fertilizing, watering, over-seeding, or using chemical control, when necessary, you can maintain a ragweed-free lawn and enjoy the outdoors without the constant sneezing and itching.

Chamberbitter (Phyllanthus urinaria), also known as Gripeweed or Little Mimosa, is a persistent, invasive weed that can quickly infest your lawn and ruin its appearance. As a resilient and fast-spreading weed, Chamberbitter can be challenging to control. This is why it is crucial to be consistent and timely in your efforts. With the right knowledge and techniques, you can reclaim your beautiful lawn. In this blog post, we will explore the most effective ways to control Chamberbitter weeds in your lawn.

1. Identify the enemy: Before you begin your battle against Chamberbitter, it’s essential to correctly identify the weed. Chamberbitter is a small, erect, annual plant that can grow up to 2 feet tall. Its leaves resemble those of the Mimosa tree, with tiny leaflets arranged in two rows along a central stem. The weed produces small, greenish-white flowers and tiny, flattened, round seeds that are enclosed in a capsule. When these capsules mature, they can burst and forcibly eject seeds, dispersing them in the immediate vicinity. This process, known as explosive dehiscence, can scatter seeds several feet away from the parent plant.
2. Proper lawn care: One of the most effective ways to prevent and control any weed is through proper lawn care. Healthy, well-maintained lawns are more resistant to weed infestations. 
3. Hand-pulling and hoeing: For small infestations, hand-pulling Chamberbitter weeds can be an effective control method. Ensure that you remove the entire root system to prevent regrowth. Keep in mind that Chamberbitter is known for its long taproot. For larger infestations, using a hoe or a specialized weeding tool can help you remove the weeds more efficiently.
4. Pre-emergent herbicides: Using a pre-emergent herbicide can be an effective strategy to prevent Chamberbitter seeds from germinating. Apply the herbicide in early spring before the weeds emerge, following the manufacturer’s instructions. For centipedegrass and St. Augustinegrass lawns, Atrazine 4L offers effective preemergence control. Isoxaben is another product that offers effective preemergence control. Isoxaben is purchased in granular form and needs to be watered-in to allow it to coat the soil.
5. Post-emergent herbicides: If Chamberbitter weeds have already emerged in your lawn, using a post-emergent herbicide can help control the infestation. If you already applied Atrazine 4L as your preemergent you can take advantage of its post-emergent activity for any seedlings that may have germinated.  3-Way Max and Triad Select are two popular selective herbicides that also offer post-emergent control. However, Celsius WG along with a surfactant like Opterra 90 Spreader/Activator (to help the herbicide stick to the weeds) is what most turf professionals prefer and recommend. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions when applying herbicides to avoid damaging your lawn or the environment.
6. Landscape beds: For Chamberbitter control in landscape beds there’s no better choice than products with glyphosate.  Eraser Max and Gly Pho-Sel Pro 41% are both safe options as long as care is taken to prevent drift to non-target plants. Glyphosate can potentially damage any plant through contact so be sure to keep your spray nozzle close to the ground and utilize a cardboard or plastic shield when spraying. Always read the label and carefully follow the directions when applying pesticides.
7. Mulching: In garden beds and around trees and shrubs, applying a layer of organic mulch can help suppress Chamberbitter weed growth by blocking sunlight and preventing seed germination. A 2-4 inch layer of mulch will also help retain soil moisture and improve soil health, benefiting your plants.

Chamberbitter weeds can be a formidable opponent, but with persistence and the right techniques, you can reclaim your beautiful lawn. By maintaining proper lawn care practices, manually removing weeds, and using pre- and post-emergent herbicides when needed, you can effectively control and prevent Chamberbitter infestations.