We have a wicked infestation of wild violet. Monterey makes an organic herbicidal soap that kills what's above ground but they'll come back. Our next attempt to get the violets out of our beds will be to cover the area with heavy black plastic for a week or two. Then we will remove the plastic to till the area and manually rake out the foliage and roots. I expect we will need to till multiple times to clear out all the roots. After this process we will put in our perennials, mulch heavily, and be vigilant for violets poking up through the mulch. I really don't mind them in the yard...just not in my garden beds.

Oh, I feel your pain. I have chickweed. I also have morning glories (?), lambs ear, and a blackberry bush - I think the previous owner loved anything that was invasive. By the end of the summer I will be ready to set fire to the whole yard...

Yes, it does get lighter when you add the lemon juice. Wild Violet Jelly Two cups fresh violet flowers (no stems), well rinsed and drained. 2 cups boiling water 1/4 cup bottled, strained lemon juice 4 cups sugar (1/2 teaspoon rosewater (very optional) 1 package liquid pectin Place rinsed flowers in glass bowl, pour boiling water over the flowers, cover and steep for at least two hours, overnight, or up to 24 hours. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve and use a wooden spoon to press all the liquid from the flowers, then squeeze the rest of the liquid out. It will be dark purple/blue. If necessary, you can store this infusion in the fridge for a few days. Put infusion into a large stainless pot, add lemon juice - it will turn light purple. Add sugar and bring to a rolling boil, stirring frequently to ensure that the sugar dissolves. Let it continue to boil for a few minutes, and when you have a good rolling boil, add the liquid pectin - return to a boil, stirring constantly (it will foam up ALOT) and cook for exactly 1 minute. Remove from heat, and follow the instructions for filling jars. Wipe the rims, put on the lids, and screw on the rings, and process for 10 minutes in hot water bath.

Now (heat of summer) is a bad time to apply most herbicides. If you have spots where there is nothing but violets, then spray those with Weed-b-Gon Chickweed, Clover, and Oxalis Killer. For the rest, wait until September or until after the summer heat has broken in your area (Middle Tennessee). It will take multiple applications because the weed comes back from seed weeks after you thought you killed it. Then as soon as you see another outbreak, spray it down before it can go to seed. If you still have violets next spring, start spraying in mid April (tax time). A couple weeks after spraying you can reseed with a northern blend or switch to a southern lawn like bermuda or St Augustine. You're in the lower part of the transition zone...which is transitioning further north as the Earth warms up.