Stop the Spread: Your Guide to Safely Removing Garlic Mustard

Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is an invasive biennial plant in the mustard family, known for its aggressive spread and detrimental impact on native ecosystems. Originally introduced from Europe for culinary and medicinal purposes, it has since become a significant threat to forest biodiversity. Its ability to outcompete native plants and form dense stands makes it a concern for forest health. It is commonly seen in our watershed – please check your property!

IDENTIFICATION

First-Year Plants
Form low-growing rosettes with dark green, kidney-shaped leaves that emit a garlic odor when crushed.

PREFERRED ERADICATION METHOD

1. Hand Pulling

• Timing: Early spring, before flowering (pull before mid-June – if you pull it later, the plant will likely have gone to seed and pulling it will spread more seeds, creating a larger problem in future years).
• Method: Pull plants when the soil is moist to ensure removal of the entire root system. Bag and dispose of the plants immediately to prevent seed spread. Even when the plants are pulled, they can still spread seed in the wind.
• Disposal sites: Typically available until mid-June – check with your site online to confirm. 

2. Long-Term Monitoring

Garlic mustard seeds can remain viable in the soil for over a decade! Implement annual monitoring and control measures for several years to deplete the seed bank and prevent reinfestation.

For comprehensive guidance, refer to the Michigan State University Extension’s Integrated Pest Management resources on garlic mustard.