Help! Garlic mustard is everywhere!

Mystic, CT(Zone 6b)

I have had garlic mustard for 3 years. 1st year there were about 6 plants under my giant fir tree in among the roots. Last year I pulled about 20 or 30 in spring and about 30 more in fall. I looked last week and there are literally 90 plants in among my other woodland plants and along the whole border. Obviously pulling is not working. We have new neighbors with a flower bed on the opposite side of this border, and I think they will now weed their side which will help. What can I do short of ripping everything out and starting over? That wouldn't even work because it would just come back under the roots of the tree.

Fort Wayne, IN(Zone 5a)

Hey Ivy1, I'm afraid you are just now finding out what I have been fighting for several years. It is highly invasive and easily spread. The only cure is Roundup and eternal vigilence. Jessamine

Woodland Park, CO(Zone 4b)

I just can't resist passing this along when all esle fails: Eat Those Invasives ;-)
http://ma-eppc.org/weedrecipes.html

But here is a page containing a bazillion links dealing with control and the biology of the species:
http://www.invasivespecies.gov/profiles/garlmust.shtml

Mystic, CT(Zone 6b)

caron- Thanks for the savory tip! I'm afraid that 1 teaspoon or even a cupful of garlic mustard at a time is not enough! I would have to make salsa and pesto for the entire town!

I think I will try the blowtorch method first, because I hate Roundup. My neighbor is totally against poisons of any kind and we both have dogs. The only other way is to use a paintbrush dipped in the weed killer, and I really would like to avoid it.

Thanks again!

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