Oh, the shame!

Yes, it can happen in the best of homes, the shame of finding Garlic Mustard in one’s own backyard!

Shortly after the Weed-Out, I found one clump in our woods. Gasp.

Embarrassedly, I quickly pulled it and threw it in the trash. Phew! I then felt rather pleased that I eradicated that pesky weed from my little acre.

But yesterday, while taking a short cut through a different wooded area of my yard, there it was again, bold as brass: Garlic Mustard.

I was doing battle with some buckthorn and other weeds, when I discovered it. This time it was mature and seeds were just starting to pop out of their tubular pods.

Now many experts say, don’t disturb it, just pull it next year. But I did not want to let those 1,000 or more seeds to fall to my ground if I could help it!

Very carefully, I took my tiny, sharp, garden snipper and gently cut each section of seed pods over an open, paper grocery bag. This is possible to do if you make sure you don’t jerk the plant. The seeds are so ready to pop out that the slightest jarring can send them flying.

After cutting off all the seed pod sections, I then pulled the plants out by the roots.

For the next 10 years, I will have to keep careful watch on my two areas of infestation. This is definitely a case for the old adage of nipping it in the bud!

Weed control links: garlic mustard and garlic mustard's pretty cousin, Dame's Rocket. (It can take over native areas too.) Garlic mustard should be thrown in the trash and labeled Garlic Mustard: Do not compost.

LINKS:Practically Speaking, Betterbrookfield, Brookfieldnow, Brookfield7,