"I feel confident that I am not the only member who struggles constantly against both onion grass and worse, garlic mustard. Has anyone a solution other than digging up and sending out with trash?" Barbara O.
Please send your suggestions for Barbara and many others.....
From Kerry Mackin
ReplyDeleteI have just been pulling lots of it out of my yard, so that's what made me remember this question. I think the key to controlling it (organically) is getting it now, or soon. After a rain like yesterday's, it is pretty easy to pull out. Then you have to go back in another week and pull out some more (ad infinitum, it seems). Apparently once a seed bank is established, it will regenerate for years -- ugh! Unfortunately, it is so widespread now that it is hard to control (my neighbor's yard has hundreds of plants right near my property line).
It sounds like a weed whacker can be used but you have to get down below the root crown to be effective. Here is a website with info on various control methods. http://www.ipm.msu.edu/garlicMge.htm
Here is one of quite a few websites with recipes for garlic mustard pesto -- I made this once and it was pretty good! It is a little more bitter than pesto made with basil, but not bad for the price!
http://www.monchesfarm.com/PESTO.htm
Barbara, if you need help, I might be able to enlist my son on a day when he doesn't have to teach (he is substitute teaching, so he doesn't know his schedule ahead of time).
Happy Easter,
Kerry