|
Preventing Further Spread
Prevention is the best way to stop the continued spread of garlic mustard.
To prevent further spread, follow the steps below:
- Clean clothing and shoes thoroughly after walking or working in an infested
area. Seeds lodge in the cracks of hiking boots and athletic shoes.
- Survey your area for garlic mustard plants. Plants can be located during
times they are not covered by fallen leaves or snow.
- When you find an infestation, determine the outer edges of the population
and remove plants by working from the least infested area to the most infested area.
- Monitor woodlands carefully and frequently that are not
infested. Removing one or two plants (before they go to seed) is much easier than removing many.
- Alert land managers to infestations on public property and seek their
support and assistance for control efforts. Alert neighbors. Seek help, if necessary, to control spread. (Use local
newspapers, cable access channels, fliers, speak to civic organizations, Scouts, etc.)
Control Methods
Any control method selected must be repeated for several years until
the garlic mustard seed bank is depleted. Vulnerable areas, especially woodlands, should be monitored annually
in the spring to detect new invasions early and/or to prevent reoccurrence. More research is needed to determine
longevity and the most effective control techniques. Contact your local Conservation District to report sightings
of this weed, and for more current and local news about garlic mustard control.
Hand Pulling
For smaller infestations, or when large groups of people are available, hand pulling garlic mustard can be effective.
Tamp the soil down after pulling, to limit further seed germination. If plants are pulled before budding begins,
they may be scattered about the area to dry. Do not put pulled plants in piles where roots may stay
moist and development may continue. Once flowering has begun, all plants must be bagged. Garlic mustard can set
seed just days after flowering begins, even after it is pulled! Pulled plants may be put in plastic bags or large
paper bags used for composting. (Do not compost garlic mustard. Few compost piles are sufficiently
hot to destroy all garlic mustard seeds.) Bagged plants should be disposed of by burning or burying deeply in an
area that will not be disturbed. (Do not burn plastic bags!) For garlic mustard collected in paper
bags, dry thoroughly before burning by leaving the top of the bag open and poking holes in the sides to allow air
circulation. Protect bags from rain.
Cutting
Research has produced conflicting results thus far. Some sources indicate that cutting garlic mustard plants as
near to the soil surface as possible, just after the flower stalks have elongated, but before the flowers
have opened, has been very effective in killing garlic mustard plants, preventing seed production, and
avoiding soil disturbance. Others say that garlic mustard resprouted several times when they used this technique,
making it more labor intensive. Additional research is needed to establish adequate data.
Herbicides
Don not use herbicides unless absolutely necessary. Severe infestations should only be treated during late fall
or early spring, when most other native plants are dormant. Garlic mustard will be green and vibrant at this time.
Most herbicides are non-selective, and their use should be limited to times when native plants are dorment. Use
caution during application.
Biological Control
Scientists are conducting research on biological control of garlic mustard, but at this time, biological control
agents are not available in the U.S. to suppress this weed.
|
Volunteers pulling
garlic mustard
|
