Lake Summerset Garden Club

Beautifying Lake Summerset

  • Home
  • Calendar
  • Photos
  • Memorial Garden
  • Gardening Tips

Please Help Iradicate Garlic Mustard!

2112078March 21, 2019

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an invasive plant in this area. Although it has been around for well over a century and has had some usefulness, it tends to take over shady areas and crowd out native plants, including tree seedlings.

As I take my evening walks, I can see lots of garlic mustard popping up around the lake. It is mostly in empty lots, but some grows beneath trees on occupied lots. While it will probably not take over a tended lot, it can cause damage in parks and other areas, including areas where wildlife depend on native plants. So the less there is, the less it can propogate to those areas.

How to identify: Wisconsin’s DNR site has a good guide on how to identify garlic mustard. In early spring, the leaves look a little like creeping charlie leaves, but won’t be in a vine configuration. Here are some photos of how it looks mid- to late-spring.

How to remove: Wear gloves or the plants’ oils will stink up your hands. If plants have already flowered, put into a plastic garbage can so the seeds can’t disperse. If there are only leaves (no flowers buds or open flowers), they can be put into a compost pile.

Uses: If you want to use a small amount for cooking (a little goes a long way) you can find recipes online, including this site fosc.org/GM-Recipe.htm. Note that raw garlic mustard contains large amounts of cyanide, so it must be cooked completely and consumed with caution. Plants that have flowered are more bitter than first-year plants.

2112078
Posted In Invasive Plants
Tagged garlic mustard | invasive

Post navigation

PreviousTip for Planting New Rose Bushes
NextArtificial colors and ingredients in nectar results in sick and dead birds

Gardening Tips

  • How can I help the bees?
  • Salt & Vinegar on Weeds? Not Recommended!
  • Artificial colors and ingredients in nectar results in sick and dead birds
  • Please Help Iradicate Garlic Mustard!
  • Tip for Planting New Rose Bushes

Categories

  • Birds
  • Invasive Plants
  • Recycling
  • Roses
  • Tips
  • Weed Control
Copyright © 2021. Lake Summerset Garden Club
Powered By WordPress and Meritorious