Unwelcome Groundcover ~ Wild garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata
Garlic mustard, originally from Europe and Asia, has become a very troublesome invasive plant across the Northeast, Midwest and Northwest of the United States.
The plant was introduced to North America in the mid 1800s for its herbal and medicinal qualities and as erosion control.
This plant spreads its seeds in the wind and gains a foothold in fields and forests by emerging earlier in spring than many native plants. By the time native species are ready to grow, garlic mustard has blocked their sunlight and outcompeted them for moisture and vital nutrients.
I have been at odds with it for over a dozen years when it appeared along the roadsides in our agricultural town. I weed it and hunt it down relentlessly, but it seems to no avail.
This shot is a section along our property, next to the field which is full of blooming Garlic Mustard, Dandelion, Red Clover and at least 5 types of grass. It is an attractive plant, but it is not well behaved and it chokes out all the native plants as you can see. Even the fallen branch will soon disappear from view..
Unwelcome Groundcover ~ Wild garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata
Garlic mustard, originally from Europe and Asia, has become a very troublesome invasive plant across the Northeast, Midwest and Northwest of the United States.
The plant was introduced to North America in the mid 1800s for its herbal and medicinal qualities and as erosion control.
This plant spreads its seeds in the wind and gains a foothold in fields and forests by emerging earlier in spring than many native plants. By the time native species are ready to grow, garlic mustard has blocked their sunlight and outcompeted them for moisture and vital nutrients.
I have been at odds with it for over a dozen years when it appeared along the roadsides in our agricultural town. I weed it and hunt it down relentlessly, but it seems to no avail.
This shot is a section along our property, next to the field which is full of blooming Garlic Mustard, Dandelion, Red Clover and at least 5 types of grass. It is an attractive plant, but it is not well behaved and it chokes out all the native plants as you can see. Even the fallen branch will soon disappear from view..