Must eliminate Garlic Mustard!

"LIVING THE GOOD LIFE IN SHADE"

The Garlic Mustard and Buckthorn Battle continues...

                                                                          (part 2)

 

So how does a homeowner truly rid themselves of Garlic Mustard and Buckthorn?    

The simple and direct answer:    BY REMAINING DILIGENT.

 

Let’s focus on controlling Garlic Mustard.  It is beneficial to know it is a biennial plant.   This means that the first year the plant has leaves only and when the plant returns the second year it has leaves and flowers, and so produces seeds.  From the various articles & research, when dispersed, these seeds may lay dormant in the soil for 7 years or longer.    Thus, our goal is to prioritize getting rid of the second year plants first, BEFORE THEY SET SEED AFTER FLOWERING. 

 

There are two primary methods of removal.     

Using an herbicide with Glysophate, (such as KillzAll and is available in our garden center) or hand pulling the plant.  I have used both methods in our backyard woodland area.   If you don’t mind using an herbicide, the Killzall is easy for large areas infested with Garlic Mustard.    The disadvantage of using this product is that it kills all plants it comes in contact with…thus some of the native plants in our yard were also killed.  The natives may be living among the garlic mustard, whether you see them or not.

 

Hand pulling is better for the environment, but is certainly more time consuming.     I am obsessed with pulling garlic mustard and have hired the neighborhood teenager to help me CONQUER AND DESTROY each year.  In these areas I see native plants now thriving.

 

Please share how you are controlling this annoying plant, and admit if you are as consumed with eradicating it as I am! 

Stay tuned…. Next blog will cover how I’m controlling Buckthorn in our wooded backyard.

 

LoriAnne Haischer

Landscape Designer and Horticulturist

LAMMSCAPES!