garlic mustard is taking over

by Margaret
(Toledo, Ohio)

I live on the edge of woods that are heavily infected with garlic mustard. Every spring I pull out as much as I can, but the problem seems to only be getting worse. Now next year's crop (currently small and cute) has invaded about 6 inches inside my fence, in addition to the broad areas outside. Any suggestions?

Doug says he has the same damn problem with his new garden area. We don't let it set seed and cut off the flower stalks as they appear and will start digging ourselves in the very near future as we start pushing back the boundaries of this badly neglected garden.

There are no herbicides that work magic with this plant and leave the rest of your garden plants alone.

So - a heavy mulch, constant vigilance re setting seed, grubbing out invaders in your cultivated areas is all I can tell you.

Hort vinegar products will "burn" off the tops and repeated sprayings will kill this plant. You simply can't hit anything you want to keep with it.

Wish us both luck.

p.s. you can eat it you know.