Q: What is this weed, and how do I kill it? I sprayed it with amine 2,4-D, but I think the weed won. I still have a few of these to get rid of. — Richard B.

A: The weed is wild violet and is considered one of the hard-to-kill weed types. Although they’re a pretty little plant with lavender purple flowers, when they’re in an unwanted place, they fit the definition of a weed.

Wild violets spread tenaciously by their winter-hardy underground rhizomes and by seeds. When the seed pods of violets are mature, they explode, sending seeds up to 15 feet away. Ants are also attracted to violet seeds, licking the outer sweetness, while carrying and distributing the seeds as they go.

If there’s only a scattered plant or two, digging can be effective, being sure to remove all the underground rhizom

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