Ground, cover for wooded area to prevent garlic mustard, - Ask Extension
Hello! I spent a lot of time removing garlic mustard from the woods per instructions found through this website [thanks!].
do you have any suggesti...
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Ground, cover for wooded area to prevent garlic mustard, #867283
Asked May 06, 2024, 4:16 PM EDT
Hello! I spent a lot of time removing garlic mustard from the woods per instructions found through this website [thanks!].
do you have any suggestions of seeds or plants? I could introduce to the woods to prevent them from being able to continue growing? I have read that wild ginger is viable. Maybe Kernza? What do you think about native plants I could introduce to my wooded area to keep aggressive plants in check?
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
Thank you for writing.
It is hard to answer this question. I need to know the size of the area, your budget, the effect and to see a midday photo facing north of the area.
Getting rid of garlic mustard is difficult because seeds remain viable in the soil for 10 years.
Pulling individual garlic mustard plants by hand is the simplest and most effective approach to managing small or isolated infestations. https://extension.psu.edu/garlic-mustard When pulling plants, it is important to remove the upper portion of the roots as well as the stem, since buds in the root crown can produce additional stems. All pulled plants should be removed from the site as seed ripening continues even after plants are pulled. Repeatedly hand pulling of garlic mustard is effective for control in small areas but has limitations because seeds remain viable in the soil for up to 10 years. Therefore, it is important to pull all garlic mustard plants in an area every year until the seed bank is exhausted and seedlings no longer appear. This will require multiple efforts each year as rosettes can continue to bolt and produce flowers over an extended period (april-june). https://www.canr.msu.edu/IPM/INVASIVE_SPECIES/GARLIC_MUSTARD/MANAGEMENT_OPTIONS#:~:TEXT=IN%20MEDIUM%20TO%20LARGE%20SIZED,TO%20LIMIT%20GARLIC%20MUSTARD'S%20SPREAD.
You can solarize with clear plastic tarp, 2 mil thick. put stones or logs to hold it down and let it sit for six weeks. After that, remove the tarp and top with 4 inches of wood mulch. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/solarization-occultation
All things considered, this is a multiyear project but I need information of the kind I mentioned at the top of this answer to advise you further.
It is hard to answer this question. I need to know the size of the area, your budget, the effect and to see a midday photo facing north of the area.
Getting rid of garlic mustard is difficult because seeds remain viable in the soil for 10 years.
Pulling individual garlic mustard plants by hand is the simplest and most effective approach to managing small or isolated infestations. https://extension.psu.edu/garlic-mustard When pulling plants, it is important to remove the upper portion of the roots as well as the stem, since buds in the root crown can produce additional stems. All pulled plants should be removed from the site as seed ripening continues even after plants are pulled. Repeatedly hand pulling of garlic mustard is effective for control in small areas but has limitations because seeds remain viable in the soil for up to 10 years. Therefore, it is important to pull all garlic mustard plants in an area every year until the seed bank is exhausted and seedlings no longer appear. This will require multiple efforts each year as rosettes can continue to bolt and produce flowers over an extended period (april-june). https://www.canr.msu.edu/IPM/INVASIVE_SPECIES/GARLIC_MUSTARD/MANAGEMENT_OPTIONS#:~:TEXT=IN%20MEDIUM%20TO%20LARGE%20SIZED,TO%20LIMIT%20GARLIC%20MUSTARD'S%20SPREAD.
You can solarize with clear plastic tarp, 2 mil thick. put stones or logs to hold it down and let it sit for six weeks. After that, remove the tarp and top with 4 inches of wood mulch. https://extension.umn.edu/planting-and-growing-guides/solarization-occultation
All things considered, this is a multiyear project but I need information of the kind I mentioned at the top of this answer to advise you further.
