Wild Violets - Ask Extension
My back lawn has disappeared and totally turned into wild violets over the past two years due to neglect (health issues, now resolved).
Is there an...
Knowledgebase
Wild Violets #870576
Asked May 29, 2024, 11:53 AM EDT
My back lawn has disappeared and totally turned into wild violets over the past two years due to neglect (health issues, now resolved).
Is there an herbicide I can use to eradicate a large section that is non-toxic to pets & wildlife? (We live at the edge of a heavily wooded area). Or is it possible to smother it out by covering with a tarp or other method. Will be installing sod as the area slopes downhill to the woods.
Thank You for any suggestions.
Anne Arundel County Maryland
Expert Response
We are glad that your health issues have been resolved. Please don't feel bad about your violet lawn.
Wild violets are Maryland native groundcover plants, which have evolved over eons with other native flora and fauna,
There are many benefits to using native plants. Mainly, they are adapted to the environment in which they naturally occur. This means they generally require less tending from gardeners because they are more resistant to regional pests, require less additional watering and fertilizing once established, and in some cases provide the only food source for specialist insects that need specific plant nutrients or products (pollen, nectar, oils) in critical stages of their life cycle- in this case, violets are the only host plant for the caterpillars of one of our fritillary butterflies. In recent years, we have been letting people know that the typical "perfect lawn" is not environmentally sound or sustainable and, in some cases (such as deep shade), unattainable. Turf-type tall fescue is a full-sun prairie plant that doesn't grow well in shady areas.
This page will tell you more:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/challenge-growing-lawn-maryland/. The 'Lawn Alternatives' link at the bottom of that page is helpful too.
As far as killing the violets back, it is not easily done and will take repeated efforts. Smothering would take a long time as they grow from thick roots. There are non-selective, systemic herbicides such as glyphosate and triclopyr that might be used (and repeated) but they do have environmental drawbacks for instance- triclopyr can move and be a threat to groundwater contamination. Application on a slope would make this more of a risk.
We wonder if you would consider a compromise- perhaps a good thick grass cover up near your home but a more natural mix of native and non-native groundcovers on the slope- with the advantage of not having to worry about mowing the slope?
Here is our groundcover information:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/groundcovers/
If you do decide to sod the whole area, do allow a 15-20 foot buffer between the sod and the forest edge.
Christine
Wild violets are Maryland native groundcover plants, which have evolved over eons with other native flora and fauna,
There are many benefits to using native plants. Mainly, they are adapted to the environment in which they naturally occur. This means they generally require less tending from gardeners because they are more resistant to regional pests, require less additional watering and fertilizing once established, and in some cases provide the only food source for specialist insects that need specific plant nutrients or products (pollen, nectar, oils) in critical stages of their life cycle- in this case, violets are the only host plant for the caterpillars of one of our fritillary butterflies. In recent years, we have been letting people know that the typical "perfect lawn" is not environmentally sound or sustainable and, in some cases (such as deep shade), unattainable. Turf-type tall fescue is a full-sun prairie plant that doesn't grow well in shady areas.
This page will tell you more:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/challenge-growing-lawn-maryland/. The 'Lawn Alternatives' link at the bottom of that page is helpful too.
As far as killing the violets back, it is not easily done and will take repeated efforts. Smothering would take a long time as they grow from thick roots. There are non-selective, systemic herbicides such as glyphosate and triclopyr that might be used (and repeated) but they do have environmental drawbacks for instance- triclopyr can move and be a threat to groundwater contamination. Application on a slope would make this more of a risk.
We wonder if you would consider a compromise- perhaps a good thick grass cover up near your home but a more natural mix of native and non-native groundcovers on the slope- with the advantage of not having to worry about mowing the slope?
Here is our groundcover information:
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/groundcovers/
If you do decide to sod the whole area, do allow a 15-20 foot buffer between the sod and the forest edge.
Christine
