Garlic Mustard has successfully invaded nearly the entire East Coast of North America, the Midwest, and Pacific Northwest This plant is not heavily utilized by native insects or mammals/herbivores – aka nothing really eats it. Because garlic mustard seeds are numerous and very small, they are easily spread through a number means. What does garlic mustard look like? How Does Garlic Mustard Lure and Kill the West Virginia White Butterfly? Native plants, such as dutchman's breeches, hepatica, trilliums, bloodroot, wild ginger, are very susceptible to this aggressive plant. The green leaves are heart-shaped with toothed edges and have a garlicky odour when crushed. For individual plants or small areas, you can yank them out if the soil is damp. Donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law. The best time to apply is in early spring before the plants flower or late fall. Today, it's the dominant plant on the forest floor in the eastern part of the country. It can be spread by transporting mud that contains its tiny seeds, so it is often found along highly-trafficked trails. But you're in luck. Davis.598@wright.edu. However, the seeds were still viable as evidenced by the rapid and numerous new garlic mustard seedlings that sprouted. Garlic mustard also produces root exudates that inhibit the growth of important soil fungi and leaf chemicals that kill native butterfly larvae that feed on the plant. | Because the understory of a forest is so important for insects and other species at the bottom of the food chain, invaders like garlic mustard can weaken the entire ecosystem. If you have a lot of garlic mustard, hand-pulling may take too long. Garlic mustard [Alliaria petiolata (Bieb. Simply so, what damage does garlic mustard do? I am including a link from MSU with more … In addition, invertebrates and other consumers that rely on these natural plant species for food are harmed by the spread of this invasive "weed". Add garlic, chives, dijon mustard and french mustard then whisk with a fork for about 2 - 3 mins until sauce is thick and creamy (see notes) Notes When you first add the ingredients and mix this sauce it … They tend to crop up near the parent plant. Watch for New Growth Besides, if you douse that garlic mustard with poison you can't eat it, and in any case, you’d probably have to apply the Roundup for several years because its not going to kill the dormant seeds. Habitat & Distribution. Author information: (1)Department of Biological Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, USA. Garlic mustard is an exotic or "alien" species introduced from Europe in the 1800's by settlers for its supposed medicinal properties and for use in cooking. In Somerset, England, the fresh green leaves were rubbed on feet to relieve the cramp. World rights reserved. Oh, garlic mustard, why must you be so troublesome? Be sure to harvest the whole plant, roots and all, to help prevent its spread. Small white four-petaled flowers emerge in the spring. It's not a good idea to compost garlic mustard plants because they are alleopathic. Garlic mustard is a very invasive, fast-spreading weed, and Multnomah County has the worst infestation of it in Oregon. Unluckily for us, this may take 2- 5 years in any confined area. It is a biennial, a plant with a two-year life cycle, growing its first year as a seedling and rosette stage plant and flowering the subsequent year. Recently, it has shown up in Wash­ington, Utah, Colorado, Idaho, and British Columbia, according to the Nature Conservancy’s Invasive Species Initiative. Garlic mustard thrives in damp, forested areas, but it appears to grow in many conditions. If root fragments stay in the ground, they can grow back. Deer don't like to eat it, so they over-graze on native plants, and open up more space for the weed. A Wisconsin-based plant expert said he’s found the way to get rid of it although it will take patience. 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