What is this in my lawn - Ask Extension
And how can I get rid of it?
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What is this in my lawn #868239
Asked May 13, 2024, 3:41 PM EDT
And how can I get rid of it?
Baltimore City County Maryland
Expert Response
Hello; Thanks for submitting your garden and landscaping questions to the University of Maryland Ask Extension Service.
The weed in question appears to be Common Blue Violet, or Wild Violets. Please see this University of Minnesota Extension webpage on Wild Violets: https://extension.umn.edu/weeds/wild-violet.
There are several options that you can take to control wild violets from your lawn: 1) Application of a post-emergent herbicide for control of broad-leafed vegetation. Check lawn chemical restrictions in Baltimore City to make sure you are allowed to use post-emergent lawn chemicals in your area. 2)Work to improve the growth of healthy lawn by getting a soil test and then follow with its recommendations: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/soil-testing-and-soil-testing-labs/
See this UMd Extension webpage on growing a healthy lawn: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawns-maryland-home-landscape/. Raise your mower height to >2 inches to that lawn turf starts shading out weeds and germinating weed seeds.
And finally, after a rain, try digging out stands of violets using a three or four pronged cultivator. Fill bare spots after weeds are removed with grass seed.
Good luck in your gardening efforts. Thanks; Christopher
The weed in question appears to be Common Blue Violet, or Wild Violets. Please see this University of Minnesota Extension webpage on Wild Violets: https://extension.umn.edu/weeds/wild-violet.
There are several options that you can take to control wild violets from your lawn: 1) Application of a post-emergent herbicide for control of broad-leafed vegetation. Check lawn chemical restrictions in Baltimore City to make sure you are allowed to use post-emergent lawn chemicals in your area. 2)Work to improve the growth of healthy lawn by getting a soil test and then follow with its recommendations: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/soil-testing-and-soil-testing-labs/
See this UMd Extension webpage on growing a healthy lawn: https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawns-maryland-home-landscape/. Raise your mower height to >2 inches to that lawn turf starts shading out weeds and germinating weed seeds.
And finally, after a rain, try digging out stands of violets using a three or four pronged cultivator. Fill bare spots after weeds are removed with grass seed.
Good luck in your gardening efforts. Thanks; Christopher
