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CONTROL METHODS FOR GARLIC MUSTARD
<br />Control strategies must be applied fo r eight o r m o re years
<br />until the garlic mustard seed bank is deple ted. Methods
<br />may vary over time, depending on the extent of t h e
<br />invasion. Vulnerable areas, especially woodlands, should
<br />be monitored each spring to promptly detect new
<br />invasions and prevent re -occurrence. Mark areas where
<br />plants were found to aid in future monitoring.
<br />HAND PULLING
<br />For smaller infestations or where large
<br />groups of people a re involved, hand pulling \ 1,
<br />or digging garlic mustard can be effective. ,
<br />v' If plants ore pulled or dug before budding .,t.:
<br />v' Use herbicides only when necessary. ALWAYS read the
<br />entire herbicide label carefully, following all mixing
<br />and application instructions. Wear recommended
<br />protective gear a nd clothi ng.
<br />WEED TORCH (FOR WET COND ITIONS )
<br />Another method for spot-killing patches of newly
<br />germinated seedlings in spring is to "flame" them
<br />with a propane weed torch. Flames quickly kill tender
<br />seedlings, usually without permanently damaging
<br />nearby perennial plants. Use the weed torch cautiously,
<br />and o n ly when conditions are wet. ALWAYS contact
<br />your local fire control agency prior to using this
<br />method. Burning permits may be required. begins, they may be scattered aboul the .
<br />area to dry ou t, preferably off the •· ''.f-' PREVENTING FU RT HER SPREAD
<br />ground. Do not put pulled plants in ; '·\· ··,.. .~
<br />piles where roots may stay moist a nd :' -~ r Clean shoes, pockets, pants cuffs and equipment
<br />development can continue. thoroughly after walking or working in inJested areas. ·.,Ji Garlic mustard seeds are tiny and are often carried off
<br />v' Once flowering has begun, all p lants / , .. , in clothing, shoes cmd m ud.
<br />must be bagged. Garlic mustard seeds :/1 ./: • .~ d
<br />1 can still ripen after plants are . , ,..-· ' r Survey your area for green garlic mustar p ants.
<br />t d ' ( · t d · · ,; · ·· ,r Plants can be spotted any time they arc not covered uproo e . usmg energy s ore m , . . .. 'r/ \.> · 1
<br />stems and leaves.) Pulled plants ~· :;' by fallen leaves or snow.
<br />may be put in plastic bags or large · :·-1· ·. ,· "' / v' When you find an infestation, remove plants that are
<br />paper bags. · 1 ' --,. • producing seed fir ·t, working fr om the least infested to
<br />v' Bagged plants should be d isposed of · · ! 11 the most infest ed area. Then remove other pla n ts,
<br />by b urning, b u rying deeply in an arc u , ; :"'· · again starting wit h the least infested areas .
<br />that will n ot be disturbed, or landfilling. v' Monitor non-infest ed wo o d lands carefully and
<br />(Please, do not burn plastic bogs.) Let garlic mustard freque n tly. Rem o ving one or t.vo plants before they
<br />co ll ected i n paper bags dry thoroughly before burning . go to seed is much easier than removing hundreds
<br />v' Do not co mpos t garlic mustard. Few compost piles or thousClnds la ter o n .
<br />prod uce enough hent to destro y ull garlic mustard seeds .
<br />v' To send bagged plants lo the landfill, label the bags as
<br />'Invasive Plants -a p proved by DNR for landfilling'.
<br />CUTTING
<br />Cutting pla n ts a few inches above the soil surfoce just
<br />after the flower stalks have elongated but before th e
<br />flowers have opened can be effective in preventing seed
<br />production and may kill garlic mustard plants. However,
<br />som e plants m ny send out n ew flower stalks that require
<br />additional cutting. Monitor site regularly.
<br />H ERBICIDES
<br />v' Extensive infestations -if too large fo r manual
<br />methods -can be con t rolled by using a l % or 2%
<br />solution of glyphosate (there ore many brands). Appl y
<br />to the foliage of individual plants and dense patches
<br />in fa ll and/or very early spring. At these times most
<br />native plants are dormant, but garlic mustard is
<br />green and vulnerable. Gl yphosate is a nonselective
<br />h erbicide that will kill or injure all green non-tctrget
<br />plants. Use caution during appli-cat ion , and spray so
<br />that herbicide neither drips from the garlic mustard
<br />leaves o r drifts ont.o a djacen t desired vegetation.
<br />WEBSITES
<br />HTTP!//TNCWEEDS.UCDAVIS,EDU/ESADOCS/A.LLIPETl ,HTML
<br />An extensive summary o f i nfortn(ltion about garlic
<br />mustard. The Nature Conservancy also h as
<br />information o n man y o ther invasive pla nts.
<br />HTTP://DNR.WI.GOV/INVASIVEs/F'ACT/GARLIC,HTM
<br />A summary of garlic mustard i nformation from the
<br />Wisco nsin DNR , with links to other sites.
<br />HTTP://WWW,BOTANY,WISC,E DU/WISFLORA
<br />Photos and information on all Wisconsin plants.
<br />CREDITS
<br />This fact.sheet is based o n the brochure: Garlic Mustard -
<br />A Major Threat to \Visconsin 's Woodlands. b y Paul Hartman
<br />and Sharon Morrisey, Univ. of Wisconsin-Ex tension, 2002.
<br />It was revised by Colin Keily, David Eagan, Eunice Padley,
<br />Kelly Kearns, and Colle€n Matula, WONR, 2006.
<br />PUB-FR-350-2006
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