pest watch
Wild violet Viola spp.
IDENTIFICATION – Their dainty flowers may be welcome in spring. But roots that won’t quit and a habit of reseeding qualify wild violets as weeds in most gardens. Look for heart-shaped leaves with purple, white or yellow blooms in early spring.
FAVORITE CONDITIONS – Violets will crop up anywhere in part shade.
CONTROL – Violets are at their most vulnerable in early spring and in late fall so attack them then. First, hand-dig them, making sure you get all the roots. If this proves unsuccessful and you can’t live with them, you may have to resort to chemicals. Look for a broadleaf herbicide with dicamba or a dicamba-2,4D combination.
