Wild violets (viola papilionacea, viola sororia) are low-growing perennials that bloom in mid-May. While some people consider them a lovely decorative plant for gardens and landscaping, others consider them a bothersome weed because they display an aggressive behavior that is very hard to control. These persistent perennials have dense, fibrous root systems and are typically found in moist, shady areas, but can also grow in sunny, arid areas. Why are so many people not wild about wild violets? These pretty little perennials freely self-seed (they don’t need to bloom to reproduce) and can quickly take over a lawn. And since the waxy leaves are resistant to many common herbicides (the shiny coating makes it hard for the chemicals to stick), the aggressive behavior can get out of control fast. Underneath the ground, wild violets have thick clumps of underground stems, called rhizomes, which store water and help make the plant drought resistant. These rhizomes are hardy survivors that send forth new shoots when the plant is plucked from above. Fall is the best time to tackle these invaders with multiple treatments done with targeted selective herbicides.
If you are seeing weeds in your lawn contact TDI for a service call to have your technician come and resolve the weeds.