Hello Phyllis

Wild violets are difficult to control and you must repeatedly treat them.

Hand digging is the only effective non chemical control. Triclopyr is the most effective chemical control, used when they are flowering and again at end of summer when weather is cooling into fall.

This info is from MSU lawn and turf weeds website, “msuturfweeds.net”

“Wild violet is consider one of the most difficult-to-control broadleaf weeds. It's aggressive growth habit and dense, fibrous root system help it to recover from herbicide damage.

Wild violet has an extremely well-developed cuticle (waxy). Additionally, the leaves of wild violet tend to cup toward the petiole which changes the leaf orientation to a more vertical arrangement. The resulting waxy, funnel-shaped leaves can easily shed raindrop sized spray droplets effectively avoiding adsorption of the herbicide droplet to the leaf.

Products containing triclopyr are far-and-away the most effective for wild violets. Products with higher concentrations of triclopyr will be more effective that any other product or combination. Applications should be targeted for early-fall or during flowering (usually mid-May). Multiple applications (28-day interval) may be necessary.”

Disclaimer: Always read, understand, and follow the label directions. Mention or exclusion of specific products does not represent an endorsement or condemnation of any product by Michigan State University.

Thank you for your response.  

Will the triclopyr kill grass? Is triclopyr designed to kill broadleaf plants?

Triclopyr is designed to kill broadleaf plants. The info in the articles is research based, and you can trust that, if it is recommended for lawns, it won’t kill the lawn when used according to the label. So, be sure the product you use has a label that states it is for use on lawns.