Empire residents will have a little help with invasive garlic mustard this spring with help from Northwest Michigan Invasive Special Network (NMISN).
Garlic mustard is on NMISN’s top 12 list of invasive species and presents a high risk to our regional ecology.
But it didn’t start out that way. Garlic mustard is one of the many plants brought to the region by pioneers and for many, the first “green” edible after a long winter. Garlic mustard is native to Europe and parts of western Asia. It was likely introduced to North America for medicinal and herbal uses as well as erosion control. It was first recorded in 1868 at Long Island, NY, and there were likely multiple introductions. It has spread to at least 37 states and six Canadian provinces. Eight states list it as a noxious weed. It is one of few nonnative invaders in North America that can tolerate shade, and it thrives in the forest understory. Garlic mustard spreads very quickly and grows in dense colonies, outcompeting native plants for resources like sunlight and moisture.
It emerges earlier than many native plants, reducing their chance to grow.
The invasive also exhibits a behavior called allelopathy, which is where it releases chemical compounds into the soil that limit the growth of other surrounding plants. This plant may potentially have negative effects on the surrounding wildlife as well, decreasing habitat for salamanders, insects, and tree seedlings.
Given this, the Invasive Species Network shares the following information: • To remove garlic mustard, use gloves, pull from the root and place in a garbage bag.
• Proper disposal is necessary as pulled plants may regenerate.
• Pulling garlic mustard after it has good to seed, spreads the plant more.
The Empire Village Council has recent a garlic mustard disposal bin, which will be placed behind the village office and garage. The dumpster is for the use of bagged garlic mustard only and is labeled as such.
