Creeping Charlie vs Garlic Mustard: A Guide to Management

Creeping Charlie and garlic mustard are two invasive weeds that can take over your garden if not managed properly.

Both weeds thrive in moist environments and can spread quickly through underground stems and seeds.

Creeping Charlie prefers shady areas, while garlic mustard can tolerate a range of light conditions.

Garlic mustard can grow up to 3 feet tall, while Creeping Charlie typically stays around 6-8 inches tall.

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Garlic mustard has a two-year life cycle, with the first year producing a rosette that grows from one inch to six inches tall.

In its second year, the plant grows a single stalk that reaches from one foot to four feet high. It blooms in May with small white flowers.

Its scalloped leaves are dark green year-round, which can be similar to other plants like creeping charlie. However, the garlic mustard plant has a distinct smell of garlic when crushed.

The tiny, oblong black seeds of garlic mustard are contained in slender capsules ranging from one inch to two-and-one-half inches long. Seeds mature in July or August and remain viable in soil for five years.

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Garlic mustard is a problem because it's allelopathic, producing chemicals that inhibit the growth of other plant species.

These chemicals impede forest regeneration, making it harder for native plants to grow.

Garlic mustard forms thick mats that shade and crowd out native plants, reducing biodiversity.

This can have a significant impact on the ecosystem, making it harder for other plants and animals to thrive.

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The best time to manage garlic mustard is in the early spring or in the fall, when its roots are easier to remove entirely.

To effectively control garlic mustard, persistent hand-pulling of the plant is recommended, especially for young plants. This method allows them to decay in place.

However, be sure to remove flowering garlic mustard plants from the ground and place them in bags for disposal, as they can still produce seeds even after being uprooted.

A spot application of two-percent glyphosate in early spring or late fall, when native plants are dormant, can also be effective in eradicating garlic mustard. Be sure to follow package instructions or contact a licensed herbicide applicator.

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Before disposing of plant waste, contact an authorized disposal site to ensure they can process compost at high enough temperatures to accept noxious weeds.

To prevent the spread of garlic mustard, it's essential to remove plants, animals, and mud from boots, clothes, gear, pets, and vehicles before entering and leaving recreation sites.

Here are some additional tips from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to help control and prevent garlic mustard growth:

If you spot new patches of garlic mustard in public areas, report them to EDDSMapS Midwest (Arrest the Pest or 888-545-6684) or local county agricultural inspectors.

In autumn, garlic mustard goes from being a minor nuisance to a major problem. It can grow up to 2 feet tall, forming a dense mat that crowds out native plants.

As the weather cools, garlic mustard's roots grow deeper, allowing it to tap into water sources that other plants can't access. This is why it's so hard to eradicate in the fall.

Garlic mustard's leaves turn a deep yellow in autumn, but it's still producing seeds that can sprout in as little as 4 weeks. This means that even if you pull it up, you might still have new plants growing from the remaining roots.

The seeds of garlic mustard can remain viable in the soil for up to 5 years, waiting for the right conditions to sprout. This is why it's essential to remove as much of the root system as possible when trying to control garlic mustard.