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Champion Country. Tuesday November 2, 2004-13 *1 '1ý,Garlic mustard plant causing problems in gardens, forests By ROBIN DOWNTON-POIRIER Special ta The Champion The garlie mustard plant is wreaking havoc in gardens,-- forests and along roadsides throughout Halton, rural resi- 0., dents told the Nassagaweya Communily Consultation "P Conimittee reeently. "Tliese plants are a menace when you get themn in your garden," said Jean Woods, a Campbellville resident and member of the eommuittee. "TMis plant will overgrow E * everything." Photo by STEVE LEBLANC Bridge work The Sixth Lina bridge oiver Sixteen Mile Creek, connecting Lower Baae Lina and Britannia Road, waa removed Iaat Tuesday morning. The one-lane ateel bridge is being replaced by a two-Iane poat-ten- alan cancrete bridge, whicli wilI be in place early next year. needs ta be taken ta stop it from overgrowing the native plant species. Garlic mustard is a biennial plant, meaning that it only lasts two years. The plant starts from seeds and. in the ftrst year, it bas green, kidney-shaped leaves that stay close toi the ground. I the second year, it geows a stem ap ta, 1.2 metres high with triangular, sharply-toothed leaves and has small, white foar-petal flowers that develop in May. The plant grows theough the winter and, before other plants begin ta, grow in the spring, it can quickly outgrow mnany other species. -Mhe garlic mustard plant is becoming a big problemr in southera Ontario and is affecting many conservation areas as well," said Sean James, owner of Fern Ridge Landscaping. "The plant was brought over frram Europe and Asia quite some time ago bat it is becoming an epidemic in aur area recently." Mr. James said pulling the plant out of the garden wilI only drap more seeds, encouraging more garlie mustard plants ta begin. "N'on need ta wait until you see the seeds ripening, eut it at ground level. place it in a garbage bag and throw it out," The garlik Muatard Plant la becomning an ePidemn- lc. he explained. "The seeds should ripen in laite August although it is different every year. Once you eut the plant off at geound level, it shouldn't have enough energy left ta continue growing and will die off." The garlie mustard seed spreads like wildfire because each plant produces hundreds of seeds that can be seat- tered avec very long distances by wildlife and human activity. It's most commonly found in shaded areas and can overgrow native species of plants found in local forests and conservation aras. Il bas also been found along some of Halton's roadaîdes this past sumrmer. "It is very important that everyone is aware of the dam- age that this plant can do." said Mr. James. "It kils little. delicate plants and needs ta, be stopped before il overgrows aur native species of plants." For more information on identifying and destroying the garlie mustard plant, visit the following Web sites: www.invasivespecies.gov/profiles/garlmutst.shtml or www.conservationhamilon.ea/enviroiment/watershedds/i nvasive.asp or www.oakville.com/Vgarlic mustard.htm. 1