Garlic Mustard
Garlic Mustard is a highly invasive plant in the United States and can be easily stopped. The plant has triangular, heart-shaped leaves with edges and a white flower that has 4 petals. Garlic Mustard was introduced to the United States in the 1800s from Europe as an herb to help control erosion. The species is considered invasive because it threatens the biodiversity of native ecosystems. The seeds are spread by wind and bloom earlier in the spring than most native plants. Due to their early bloom time, they block out the sunlight and take moisture and nutrients from the native seedlings. The species even inhibits trees from growing which reduces carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. More CO2 in the atmosphere speeds up climate change, which is an advantage to Garlic Mustard as it adapts faster than native plants. Also, Garlic Mustad roots release chemicals that alter the fungi networks that supply nutrients to native plants. Removal of the species is easy but takes time. To get rid of it manually, it is best to pull them out before they set seeds. If the species has seeds, the action of pulling them out will spread the seeds. The best time to pull the plant is after it has rained because it is easier to get the taproot. After removing the plant throw it away!! Do NOT compost the species!!!
Comments
Add a Comment