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Tom’s Guide
Tom’s Guide
Technology
Kaycee Hill

Those pretty purple flowers are secretly destroying your lawn — here's why wild violets outsmart every weed killer and what actually works

Wild violets in lawn grass.

Wild violets are the wolf in sheep's clothing of lawn weeds. In spring, their small purple flowers look charming enough that many homeowners leave them alone. By midsummer, you realize they've taken over.

The issue with wild violets is they're designed to trick you into failure. Their leaves have a waxy coating that repels standard herbicides. Underground, they've developed a network of tubers that survive pulling, mowing, and casual attempts at removal. By the time you realize it's a problem, they're already winning. Here's how to take your lawn back.

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