Where did it come from? Garlic mustard is an annual, biennial or short-lived perennial with few to no hairs on its leaves and stems. Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) has become one of Michigan’s most notorious woodland invasive weeds.Its thrifty, biennial habit allows the plant to optimize growth in early spring months before native vegetation greens up. Garlic mustard is a biennial plant; its first year is spent as a basal rosette, with leaves that remain low to the ground. Use controlled burns in fall or early spring. In late spring, May through June, the plants bloom. However it got here, the first recorded appearance was in 1868 on Long Island. They secrete chemicals that prevent other plants from growing near them. So wherever you see flowers on the plant, that is where the seeds will be. The tap root of garlic mustard has the ability to grow additional plants from buds that form along the root. disposal of garlic mustard. The roadsides, the woodland edges, seemingly everywhere I look, garlic mustard is blooming. Buckthorn (PDF) Garlic Mustard (PDF) Honeysuckle (PDF) Look out for the orange eggs laid just behind the flower. What is it? Garlic Mustard growing in the understory of a temperate forest in Southern Ontario. The third reason it is considered an invasive plant is its long tap root. New sprouts have heart shaped basal leaves the first year. It begins spring growth at low temperatures, earlier than many other plants. The second reason is that due to its large seed production, it spreads quickly and crowds out other native plants. • Dominates understorey vegetation, monopolizing light, moisture and soil nutrients. It is best to toss garlic mustard plants in the garbage. For more information on control techniques, visit the Garlic Mustard factsheet [exit DNR] by University of Wisconsin-Extension. Garlic mustard is a biennial plant in the mustard family. The fact that it is self fertile mea… Garlic mustard is an extremely hardy plant, and can re-sprout in a compost pile or if left out, and seeds can develop even if the plant was not flowering when pulled. Whether participating in one active effort of mustard seed removal or committing yourself to continual visits to the same site, volunteers like you have led to very significant progress at several FMR stewardship restoration sites. In areas with warm winters, the rosettes remain green throughout the winter, photosynthesizing the sunlight while other plants are either dormant or have no foliage. The garbage men will pick them up on your regular scheduled pick up day. The rosette appears in mid-summer when the seeds germinate. City of Madison residents may also bring garlic mustard to the City's drop off sites at 1501 W. Badger Rd., 4602 Sycamore Ave. or 402 South Point Dr. "When you bring garlic mustard to the drop off sites do not put it with the other yard waste which is composted," Dreckmann said. Once removed, the plants are typically destroyed (often burned) by park staff or other professionals. They will be deeply buried in the landfill. You can help get rid of it, though read on for some important tips about pulling up and getting rid of garlic mustard. The wet soil is looser making it easier to pull up the plants. I recommend waiting until after it rains to start removing it. It can easily double its plant population in a single year, creating monoculture stands that crowd out native species. The second year, the rosettes grow into a plant that can be up to 3 feet tall. The first year, the plants form a rosette of leaves. • Garlic Mustard is a serious threat to natural habitats and biodiversity. Identifying, controlling, and removing them requires a plan of action. If garlic mustard is a problem in your area, perhaps you can suggest it to your local restaurants. The resulting caterpillars feast on the leaves. It is commonly found in disturbed sites, such as forest edges, fence lines, roadsides, trail sides and urban Garlic mustard plant seeds remain viable in the soil for up to five years. Garlic mustard is famously the larval food plant of the Orange-tip butterfly particularly on damper more open sites such as riverbanks. Damp soils make the removal process even easier. Stands of garlic mustard can cover forest floors, threatening the native wildflowers and other herbaceous plants. You should strive to pull up the plants before they set seed because the action of yanking the plant from the ground will spread the seed. • Produces phytotoxins (chemicals) inhibiting growth of other plants and trees. Garlic mustard is edible, tasting like garlic, so another way to get rid of it is by eating it. Question: When I am walking in the woods and see a large patch of garlic mustard, what is the best way to dispose of the pulled plant? Plants parts can have a garlic smell when crushed, especially when young. As long as the seeds have not yet formed, getting rid of the plant will prevent seeds from developing. The chemicals garlic mustard releases are called glucosinolates. In it native areas, it is kept in check by 76 different kinds of insects including butterflies and moths which lay their eggs on it. Small amounts of garlic mustard should be placed in plastic bags and put in your tan refuse cart. Each pod contains about 16 seeds. Some say that European colonists brought garlic mustard to the New World to use as they did in their old homes, flavoring food and as a medicinal. Remember to monitor your yard for regrowth. You will more likely get all or most of the long tap root when you pull the plant out of the wet ground. It has long been used as food and medicinally as a diuretic. It could become a trendy way to get rid of this unwanted, prolific weed! That sounds like a really good idea! The seeds remain viable in the soil for up to five years, so the plants will continue to reappear in subsequent years. Either burn them if burning is allowed in your area or bag them up and throw them out with your garbage. INVASIVE PLANT DISPOSAL . Caren White is a Master Gardener and instructor at Home Gardeners School. A new federal initiative to restore America's River? Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) was likely brought to the United States for food or medicinal purposes in the 1800s. Garlic mustard intentionally accompanied European immigrants to the U.S. in the mid-1800s. Garlic Mustard Disposal Techniques. Thank you for your information. Garlic mustard is an invasive non-native biennial herb that spreads by seed. This includes tree seedlings, another reason why a garlic mustard infestation is so disastrous for forests. It is best to remove the plant when the soil is damp and before it begins to flower. Once you’ve determined that garlic mustard is indeed terrorizing your garden, your next step is to choose a method of removing it. Like all trash, you should carry it out of the woods and dispose of it in a trash bin or if there is nowhere to throw it out at the park, take it home and throw it out with your own trash. The plant has a prolific growth rate and can produce hundreds to thousands of seeds per plant. When the garlic mustard is flowering in spring before seeds develop can you compost it ? These give it a spicy taste but also harm beneficial soil fungi called mycorrhizae. Although edible for people, it is not eaten by local wildlife or insects. I don't recommend composting garlic mustard on your property because it is likely to either take root in your composter or if there are seeds present, they will then be spread in your garden when you use your compost. 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