How to Remove Invasive Garlic Mustard by Hand

Don't be deceived by this pretty plant - it is one beast of a bully! Garlic mustard is an invasive species in much of North America. In this video, learn how remove this plant and stop it from spreading. I'll describe some removal techniques, share plants that can outcompete garlic mustard, and even talk about a great way to keep garlic mustard at bay - garlic mustard pesto! Give it a try and let me know what you think! See below for a recipe!

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IMPACTS OF GARLIC MUSTARD (from https://www.ontario.ca/page/garlic-mu...)
Garlic mustard can invade forests & displace native wildflowers like trilliums & trout lily. It hinders other plants by interfering with the growth of fungi that bring nutrients to the roots of the plants. It threatens several of Ontario’s species at risk (e.g., drooping trillium, white wood aster & wood poppy).

HOW TO IDENTIFY GARLIC MUSTARD (from https://www.ontario.ca/page/garlic-mu...)
-Young leaves release a strong garlic odour when crushed
-1st year plants produce a rosette of dark green, kidney-shaped leaves with scalloped edges
-2nd year plants grow a stem 0.3-1.2m high with triangular, alternate, sharply toothed leaves
-Lower leaves are broad, kidney-shaped and up to 10cm across. Upper leaves are triangular and five to 10cm across, narrowing towards the tip
-Second-year plants produce white flowers with four small petals in May
-Narrow seed pods 2.5-6cm long split open in mid-summer to reveal tiny black seeds
-Garlic mustard resembles several native Ontario plants. The leaves at the base of the plant look like several plants in the carrot family, the daisy family and the violet family. Seed pods look like several other mustard species. Distinguish garlic mustard from other plant families by crushing the leaves. If they emit a strong garlic smell, it's likely garlic mustard.

WHAT YOU CAN DO (from https://www.ontario.ca/page/garlic-mu...)
-Learn how to identify garlic mustard and other invasive plants, and how to effectively manage them. See The Landowner’s Guide to Controlling Invasive Woodland Plants.
-Avoid using invasive plants in gardens and landscaping.
-Buy native or non-invasive plants from reputable garden suppliers. Native plants provide habitat and food sources for native wildlife.
-Dispose of invasive plants in the garbage. Do not put in the compost or discard in natural areas. Discarded flowers may produce seeds.
-When hiking, prevent the spread of invasive plants by staying on trails and keeping pets on a leash.
-If you’ve seen garlic mustard or other invasive species in the wild, contact the Invading Species Hotline at 1-800-563-7711, or visit Ontario’s invading species awareness program to report a sighting http://www.invadingspecies.com/

NATIVE PLANTS THAT CAN OUT-COMPETE GARLIC MUSTARD
(From the Ontario Invasive Plant Council: https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/...)
*plant in higher densities than what is usually found in forests (9-11 plants/m2)
• Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
• Woolly Blue Violet (Viola sororia)
• Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
• Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
• Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis)
• Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
• Canada Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum canadense)
• White Aven (Geum canadense)
• Ostrich Fern (Matteucia struthiopteris)
• Woodland Sedge (Carex blanda)
• Starry False-Solomon’s-Seal (Mianthemum stellatum)
• Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
• American Currant (Ribes americanum)
• Bush Honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)”
*Best used in combination with other control measures, or as a restoration measure in areas where Garlic Mustard has been removed and the high-density planting can out-compete growth from the seed bank.

GARLIC MUSTARD PESTO
   • How to Make Pesto with Garlic Mustard   from ‪@ReformationAcres0‬

SOLARIZING GARLIC MUSTARD (from https://edrrontario.ca/how-to-remove-...)
Do not compost any of the plant (seeds / roots) at home or send to a landfill. Pulled plants which have flowered may still be able to produce seeds, so pulled garlic mustard should be “solarized” to ensure the plant is no longer viable. Solarize viable plant material by placing it in sealed black plastic bags (e.g. black garbage bags) and leaving them in direct sunlight for 1-3 weeks. Alternatively, place in yard waste bags, cover with a dark-coloured tarp and leave in the sun for 1-3 weeks to dry out thoroughly.

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