How to Kill Wild Violets in Lawns

The violet, blue or white blossoms of the wild violet (Viola sororia), also known as the common violet, sand violet and Viola papilionacea, spread across the lawn, marring the expanse of green perfection. Removing wild violets from lawns in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 3 through 9 is difficult. The plants rapidly resprout from the roots after herbicide treatments; killing wild violets is a process that requires persistence by the homeowner.

No matter which method of wild violet eradication you select, protect your skin, eyes and lungs before beginning to work. Shoes, long sleeves, long pants, gloves, safety goggles and a dust mask protect you from dirt, debris and chemicals. After working in the garden, wash thoroughly with soap and water. Also wash your clothing as soon as possible, especially if you've been spraying herbicides.

Wild violets spread by seeds and thick, underground roots called rhizomes. If you only have a few wild violets appearing in the lawn, use a spade or shovel to dig up the entire plant. Transplant the violets in shady locations where other plants won't grow or dispose of them in the trash. Fill the hole with potting soil and add grass seed to quickly fill in the bare spots in your landscape. Keep the newly seeded area moist until the grass is fully established.

While less effective than chemical options, spot-treating violets with a homemade solution of vinegar, salt and dishwashing liquid may have some success if you're persistent. One gallon of horticultural-strength vinegar mixed with 1 cup of salt and 1 tablespoon of dish-washing liquid, then sprayed directly onto the violet plants will kill the foliage. Generally, this solution won't kill the roots, so the treatment must be repeated as the violets regrow. In addition, horticultural or 10- to 20-percent-strength vinegar is an acid that can severely damage your eyes and skin. Finally, the solution is nonselective and kills all the foliage it touches -- including the grass.

Wild violets should be treated in the fall, when the plants are actively growing and air temperatures are less than 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Among the more effective chemical treatments are triclopyr products and combinations of 2,4-D, MCPP and dicamba. Mix 2 to 4 tablespoons of the herbicide concentrate with 1 gallon of water to treat 400 square feet of lawn. Adding 1/2 ounce of a spreader sticker product to 1 gallon of herbicide helps it stick to the waxy leaves of the violet, improving the herbicide's effectiveness. Soak the leaves of the plants using a spray bottle, or use a tank sprayer to treat the entire lawn according to the manufacturer's directions. Repeat the treatment in 10 to 14 days.