It's Time to Pull Garlic Mustard

Garlic mustard is an invasive biennial that crowds out native plants, both through excessive seed production and by secreting a chemical through its roots that suppresses the growth of other species. 

Garlic mustard blooms from April to June, so now is the time to be on the lookout for this plant in your yard. Learn to distinguish garlic mustard (top image at left) from look-a-likes, such as early saxifrage (image at lower right).

If you discover garlic mustard, you can control it by pulling and disposing of it. Just be aware that you might need to repeat the process for several years:

• Pull it before it flowers and creates seeds. To pull, grab at the base of the plant and pull up the roots.
• Compost the plants in a pile (do not put in your garden compost). If no seeds are present, bag the plants until dry and then dispose in the trash. 
• You can also contact your local public works department to see if it offers other disposal options.

Of course, garlic mustard is an herb, so some people dispose of it by incorporating it into recipes! A web search will reveal more information about this option.

SVT has also scheduled some Garlic Mustard Pulls to clear this invasive plant from our properties. To help out, please sign up for an upcoming Volunteer Work Day.

To learn more about garlic mustard, check out the CISMA website.