How to Transplant Wild Violets

Wild violets burst into color in spring and bring continuous blooms throughout the summer with their tiny purple, white, and blue flowers. Transplant bunches of this "weed" to add color to your yard or garden, but remember the violet's invasive nature. Once they begin rooting in your yard, you will have difficulty getting rid of them---but that also means they will spread easily with little maintenance.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Wild violets
• Garden spade
• Bucket
• Potting soil
• Watering can

Transplanting Wild Violets

1. Locate large clumps of wild violets in the ground. Choose mature groups with large leaves and blossoms and strong root systems.

2. Dig out the clump of violets with a small garden spade. Angle the spade point inward toward the roots and cut a circle around the clump. Pull up the bunch of violets. Shake gently to remove loose dirt. Leave packed dirt around the roots to protect them while traveling.

3. Remove any weeds or grasses mixed in with the wild violet clump. Gently pull out the other plants, including the roots, and discard. Place the violet clump in a bucket. Mist with water to dampen the remaining soil around the roots. Add as many clumps of violets to the bucket as you want to transplant.

4. Choose a shady or partial-sun area in your lawn or garden. Dig out a chunk of sod similar in size to the clump of violets. Add a few inches of potting soil to the bottom of the hole. Place the wild violet bunch into the hole. Press extra potting soil around the edges to fill in the rest of the hole.

5. Plant another bunch of violets about 12 inches away from the first one. Continue until you have planted all the clumps you need. Water each transplanted violet by soaking the clump and surrounding soil.

6. Separate large bunches of violets by gently breaking the root systems in half. Dig up and separate the clumps of violets each year when they reach 12 inches in diameter.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave most of the dirt packed around the violet roots when you dig them up. This mixes with new soil to allow the violet to gradually get used to the new environment. To avoid introducing this invasive plant into your yard, transplant violets into prepared pots and place them around your garden or sidewalk. Separating large clumps of violets keeps the blooms healthy and the plant spreading. Different colors of violets (white, purple, blue) will cross pollenate to form striped and dual-color versions.
• Wild violets are considered an invasive weed and may be hard to contain once introduced to your garden or lawn.

References

• Four Seasons Nursery, Jackson, Tenn.
• "Wild Violets of North America," Viola Brainerd Baird