Seeks Volunteers to Pluck Out Garlic Mustard, Other Pests
By Shelley Harms

The Norfolk Conservation Commission, along with the Norfolk Land Trust, urges
residents to spend some of this Independence Day weekend pulling up garlic mustard and
dame’s rocket along the town’s rural roads. On Sunday, July 5 at noon, residents are
encouraged to bring bags of these pests to the Town Green for a celebration.
Cars and trucks aren’t the only things that travel along roads. Invasive plants like garlic
mustard frequently establish themselves in disturbed soil along roadsides before invading
fields and forests. Eradicating them from the roadsides will help stop them from taking
over the forest floor.
No herbicides are needed to control garlic mustard and dame’s rocket, which are easy to
pull up. These plants are setting seed, and should be removed before their seeds spread
far and wide. The two plants look similar at this time of year, with their many-branched
seedpods. Once pulled up, the plants should be bagged in black plastic.
While out pulling these species, a shovel or some pruning shears can be used todig up or
cut back the Japanese barberry and multiflora rose that are also invading Norfolk’s
roadsides. This may not kill the plant, but it will prevent it from going to seed this year.
These plants do not need to be bagged but should be propped above the soil so they do
not re-root.
As an incentive, the Conservation Commission is offering a free cookbook to anyone
who fills one or more black plastic trash bags with these plants. The book, “From Pest to
Pesto” by the Kalamazoo, Michigan Land Trust, has many tasty ways to use garlic
mustard roots and leaves. Bring your bags to the Green at noon on Sunday, July 5 to
enjoy refreshments and claim your cookbook. The commission will take care of
disposing of the bags.
Questions? Email conservationcommission@norfolkct.org, or call 542-1657.