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A garden doesn’t have to be big to be beautiful and well-designed. Here are some ideas to help even the tiniest bed look terrific!

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Wild violet
Viola spp.

IDENTIFICATION – Their dainty flowers may be welcome in spring. But roots that won’t quit and a habit of reseeding qualify wild violets as weeds in most gardens. Look for heart-shaped leaves with purple, white or yellow blooms in early spring.

FAVORITE CONDITIONS – Violets will crop up anywhere in part shade.

CONTROL – Violets are at their most vulnerable in early spring and in late fall so attack them then. First, hand-dig them, making sure you get all the roots. If this proves unsuccessful and you can’t live with them, you may have to resort to chemicals. Look for a broadleaf herbicide with dicamba or a dicamba-2,4D combination.