Garlic Mustard

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Garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata, is a biennial herbaceous plant. In the first year of its cycle, when it grows from seed, this plant will start with two small leaves and grow throughout the summer without forming flowers or seeds. This is the best time to pull out the entire plant before its roots become well-established. Be careful not to confuse garlic mustard with our native common violet, which is part of the local ecosystem.

Garlic mustard seedlings removed by squeegee in early spring

The young seedlings and small rosettes of the first year’s growth remain close to the ground throughout the growing season and don’t flower. Uproot or drag out with a window squeegee, then bag and dispose.

Garlic mustard rosettes in year one

By April of its first year, the plant roots start to develop from seeds. The leaves of these rosettes are not to be confused with common blue violets, golden ragwort, or white avens. This is the best time to uproot by hand or dig out the young roots with a 4-tined cultivator (Basic Weeding Tools). Bag and solarize.

Garlic mustard flowers in May

Garlic mustard produces clusters of white flowers at the top of the stalks by May. The plant continues growing, ending its life cycle with upright seedpods just below the flowers. This transformation from flower to seed will continue even if the entire plant is uprooted. So never leave flowering stalks or seed pods on the ground. They are that tenacious.

Seed pods in June

Although the roots of garlic mustard will die by the end of the second growing season, to prevent the seedpods from dispersing seeds during May and June when the ground is moist — while wearing leather or nitrile-dipped gloves for traction, grip the stem or several stems at once close to the ground, then with a quick side to side motion — pull out, bag and tie the plants in clear plastic bags without holes. Allow the bags to cook for several weeks in full sun before disposal. Or, fill an empty 50-pound grain bag and seal as below.  Do not compost.

Garlic mustard seed pods in early July
 By the first day of July, the leaves have fallen, the stems are dry and stiff, and the seed pods start falling to the ground, releasing their seeds. This is the time to carefully cut the stems with hand pruners just below the lowest seed pod.
50-pound grain bag for disposing of seed pods and stems
Gently dispose of the cut stems and the seed pods head-first into an empty, sturdy 50-pound grain bag with the opening rolled down to stabilize it. Once full, close the top of the two sides together and fold. Staple along the fold to seal the bag and prevent the small black seeds from falling out. Dispose of the bag with the trash.

For additional information about uprooting plants, visit Uprooting Herb Plants.