Begone, vile weed!

Garlic mustard

To the Editor:

This top invasive species — garlic mustard — displaces nearly every other plant in its vicinity. We have spent countless hours over the past five years pulling it out, as have the garden staff at Pendle Hill. Garlic mustard is a biennial and after a light crop last year, has returned this year in full force.

It’s a continuing challenge needing the cooperation of neighbors so that it doesn’t continue to spread from house to house. One plant can produce 800 hardy seeds, while for comparison, one dandelion only produces 20-40 seeds. But they are similar in that if the entire root isn’t pulled up, they grow back. Deer don’t like to eat it and unfortunately, in the U.S., it has no predators.

Please check your yard for this scourge and let your neighbor know if you see it in their yard. After our recent rains, the roots can be fairly easily pulled up with gentle pressure. But now is the time before the flowers quickly turn to seed and disperse.

Rob Dreyfus
Swarthmore