Violets

Hullo everyone, my flower beds are over-run with pink violets and they are a curse.  I doesn't matter how many are pulled up they still come back.  The roots are very deep and other than clearing the whole of the bed and digging them out I can't think of any other to rid my garden of them.  Help Help Help

You can try using a weedkiller on them, but you'll have to cover all your wanted plants so that you don't get the weedkiller on them. Other than that, I'm afraid it is a matter of digging.

Thanks for that.  I will to try it, but I'm frightened I will lose my  other plants. Bye

Do not let the plants flower if they set seed then they will pop up everywhere.

Alina is right on the weedkiller- you wont lose you other plants if the weed killer does not get on the leaves-you can now buy a weedkiller gel just to rub on them if that makes it easier.

Thanks  I'll give it a try when it stops raining. 

I'm having the same problem with purple violets - I didn't realise that's what they were until recently.  They've taken over everywhere, including in between the cracks in the block paving.  I'm pulling them up wherever I see them, before they can set seed, but it's a ongoing chore.  I certainly never planted any violets, and I wouldn't mind if it was the only riotous plant in my garden, but a few others have joined the club now too.  I do wonder if the fact that I use organic compost might be responsible for bringing the seeds in?

It might be, but it could also be that the wet year has allowed long-dormant seeds to germinate.