Hand-Pulling Garlic Mustard
Guidelines for Volunteering for “The Skyline Residents-Based Garlic Mustard Effort”
DOWNLOAD "Garlic Mustard: A Threat to Skyline's Woodland Habitat"
DOWNLOAD A DETAILED HANDOUT TO TAKE WITH YOU WHEN PULLING
What is “The Skyline Residents-Based Garlic Mustard Effort”?
This is a joint project of Skyline Ridge Neighbors (SRN), Forest Park Neighborhood Association (FPNA) and Skyline Grange to control the spread of garlic mustard since its appearance locally in 2007. The goal is to locate and eliminate these plants within SRN and FPNA boundaries before they can go to seed.
Project Dates:
December - March: Pull plants in the rosette stage
April - June: Pull flowering plants before they go to seed
Where:
Wherever garlic mustard is growing within SRN and FPNA boundaries, especially targeting infestations along roadways, on our own properties, and helping neighbors with garlic mustard.
Learn to identify & why it is a threat to our native habitat with this excellent garlic mustard video
How to Hand Pull Garlic Mustard:
It is easy to volunteer, just follow these directions closely. Your native wildflowers and woodlands will thank you.
Guidelines for Volunteering for “The Skyline Residents-Based Garlic Mustard Effort”
DOWNLOAD "Garlic Mustard: A Threat to Skyline's Woodland Habitat"
DOWNLOAD A DETAILED HANDOUT TO TAKE WITH YOU WHEN PULLING
What is “The Skyline Residents-Based Garlic Mustard Effort”?
This is a joint project of Skyline Ridge Neighbors (SRN), Forest Park Neighborhood Association (FPNA) and Skyline Grange to control the spread of garlic mustard since its appearance locally in 2007. The goal is to locate and eliminate these plants within SRN and FPNA boundaries before they can go to seed.
Project Dates:
December - March: Pull plants in the rosette stage
April - June: Pull flowering plants before they go to seed
Where:
Wherever garlic mustard is growing within SRN and FPNA boundaries, especially targeting infestations along roadways, on our own properties, and helping neighbors with garlic mustard.
Learn to identify & why it is a threat to our native habitat with this excellent garlic mustard video
How to Hand Pull Garlic Mustard:
It is easy to volunteer, just follow these directions closely. Your native wildflowers and woodlands will thank you.
- There are no scheduled work parties. Work at times convenient for you. If you want to be assigned a location to monitor, contact us.
- Learn how to accurately identify garlic mustard. Watch the video referred to below and inspect a real plant at one of our roadside signs.
- Wear sturdy footwear, washable clothing and gloves. If working along roadside, wear a bright reflective vest. Ideally work with a buddy.
- Use large, heavy duty plastic bags (available at Skyline Grange).
- Pull plants from the periphery of an infestation, working towards the center. Gently tug plant at its base until the main root loosens from the soil & the entire plant pulls out. Take care to remove the entire root system.
- Place plant into plastic bag. Do not leave pulled plants on the ground. Do not dispose in your compost pile or in your yard debris bin.
- When the bag is almost full, squeeze the extra air out & tightly secure the bag closed. Do not overfill bags!
- Do the following at the Garlic Mustard Drop-Off Site at Skyline Grange (located at 11275 NW Skyline Blvd. which is 0.1 miles west of Newberry or 2.4 miles west of Germantown Rd.)
- Drop the bags off at the designated site.
- Be careful not to contaminate the Grange’s property with loose plants or seeds. If there is a hole in the plastic bag, secure it closed with duct tape located in the equipment container.
- Fill out the important “Garlic Mustard Collection Data Form” which is in the box located at the Grange’s disposal site. Record the number of hours each volunteer worked & location where plants wee pulled. This information is vital for mapping infestations, calculating volunteer hours, and to make future management plans. For your confidentiality, your name will not be included in any reports.
- So you do not spread seeds to your own property or to anywhere else, thoroughly clean your footwear of any debris using the boot brush. Make sure all debris is deposited into the Scrub Brush Bos, and not on the ground.
- Wash you clothing and gloves at home.
- Inform and involve your family, neighbors and friends. Give them literature, show them a specimen, and encourage them to help pull plants according to these guidelines.
- Ideally, return to your work site weekly to monitor for new growth.
Over 8,200 pounds pulled in 2007! (Photo: S. Speroff)
Treat Garlic Mustard like a terrible infectious disease!
After being in a garlic mustard site, remember you, your dog, horse, vehicle, and bike can become seed carriers and inadvertently spread seeds to uncontaminated sites. After being anywhere where garlic mustard might be:
Coordinators & Questions:
After being in a garlic mustard site, remember you, your dog, horse, vehicle, and bike can become seed carriers and inadvertently spread seeds to uncontaminated sites. After being anywhere where garlic mustard might be:
- Scrub your footwear thoroughly
- Brush your dog
- Wash off your bicycle or vehicle
- Wash your clothing
Coordinators & Questions:
- For Skyline Ridge Neighbors & Skyline Grange: Sen Speroff (503-621-3331, [email protected])
- For Forest Park Neighborhood Association: Tom Lovett (503-289-2027, [email protected])
