Garlic mustard season dries up

BEULAH - The end of garlic mustard season is finally in sight. Garlic mustard is an invasive plant that threatens forest ecosystems by crowding out native plants and changing soil chemistry. The most common method for controlling garlic mustard is to pull it up by hand. It is important to stop pulling garlic mustard once it begins to drop its seeds, which is going to happen soon.

Garlic mustard no longer flaunts those tiny, white, cross-shaped flowers that stood out so clearly in the spring. They have been replaced with long green pods at the end of the stalk which are the seed pods, called siliques. Each silique is filled with many seeds. When it dries out, the silique will split at its seam and drop all of the tiny black seeds within. It is best to avoid garlic mustard patches when this happens; as tempting as they are to pull, you risk spreading the seeds to other areas. Once it goes to seed, the mature plant will die back.

It’s hard to say exactly when to stop picking. There are many factors that impact seed development, and differences in topography, proximity to water, and soil types will have an effect on how quickly the plant will go to seed. Be mindful of the condition of the seed pod when you are pulling. If they look like they are drying out (turning yellowish or looking frail), avoid them. If the seed pods look green and juicy, take advantage of the extended season and pull them out!

Now that garlic mustard is on the backburner, we can turn our attentions to the other invasive plants out there. Dames rocket may still be flowering. This is a beautiful, nice-smelling, non-native invasive plant which has the potential to take over natural areas in a manner similar to garlic mustard (the two plants are related). For a complete list of targeted invasive species, visit Find a species to tackle on our list. The struggle against invasive species is not over, it is just changing. Like my granny always used to say, “Life’s a struggle.” That’s just how it is.

For more information, visit or contact Invasive Species Coordinator Liz Padalino at or (231) 882-4391 (Thurs., Fri.) or (231) 889-4761 (Mon., Tues.)