Decorah Volunteers Invited to Help Battle Invasive Garlic Mustard

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. DECORAH — Here's a way to make a difference in your local parks: pull garlic mustard. The invasive plant spreads quickly in wooded areas, crowding out native species and producing seeds that can remain viable in the soil for years. But with a little persistence, volunteers can keep it from going to seed — much like managing weeds in a garden. Friends of Decorah Parks is hosting two spring work sessions to help community members identify, report and remove garlic mustard: Dunning's Spring parking lot: Saturday, April 4, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.Van Peenen Park (Quarry Hill Road, past the quarry): Saturday, April 11, 10:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Volunteers are asked to arrive on time and bring gloves. Hand diggers and hoes will be provided, though extra tools are welcome. A few quick facts: crushing a garlic mustard leaf releases a strong garlic scent, and the plant is edible. It is a biennial, growing from seed into a low-lying plant the first year and flowering the next spring. Its white, four-petaled flowers set it apart from most other mustard plants, which are yellow. Thanks to ongoing volunteer efforts, many areas of Decorah's parks have already been cleared of garlic mustard. But the work isn't finished, and there's satisfaction in seeing progress with your own hands. Those interested in additional sessions or adopting a plot can contact Mary Lewis at lewismar02@gmail.com or 563-202-4064. A guide to identifying and controlling garlic mustard is available at vimeo.com/2855779. Get the inside scoop! Subscribe to the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and receive local news, expert analysis, and stories that matter most—straight to your inbox.