Help the City Tackle Garlic Mustard
Garlic mustard, an upright, herbaceous biennial that grows up to four feet tall, is the most destructive plant in Portage. The small white flowers have four petals clustered at the top of the stalk. Each plant can produce millions of seeds which spread rapidly in wooded areas by wind, animals, clothing and shoes. Its rapid growth impedes native plants and can stifle new forest growth. Proper removal and disposal is vital to reducing the growth of garlic mustard.
Garlic mustard can be uprooted easily and should be disposed of in plastic garbage bags. Plants should not be pulled after the seed pods turn brown. Do not put plants in compost or lawn recycling pickup since the seeds will sprout and spread if not disposed of properly. Large infestations can be sprayed with an appropriate herbicide. It is also acceptable to mow large carpeted areas prior to flowering.
The Portage Environmental Board annually sponsors garlic mustard pulls in city parks, enlisting the help of Portage residents and businesses as volunteers. Volunteers learn how to identify garlic mustard, remove it and properly dispose of the invasive species.
2021 Garlic Mustard Volunteer Pulls - 9 AM to 12 PM
May 8 @ South Westnedge Park (9010 South Westnedge Avenue)
May 16 @ West Lake Nature Preserve (9001 South Westnedge Avenue)
May 30 @ Schrier Park (850 West Osterhout Avenue)
June 6 @ Portage Creek Bicentennial Park (910 East Milham Avenue)
No sign up necessary. (If you are planning a large group or corporate outing, please call 329-4422 to coordinate.) Gloves are provided but bring your own if you wish. Dress comfortably be prepared to get a little dirty. Bring a refillable water bottle.
Pulls will be cancelled only for severe weather. Residents can sign up for the Environmental Board Notify Me subscription to get updates on weather cancellations, additional volunteer opportunities and upcoming board meetings. Please contact the Department of Transportation & Utilities at 329-4422 with any questions.
Gypsy moths are a common pest species that feeds on the leaves of many trees common to Southwest Michigan, such as oaks, aspens, and willow trees. Most healthy trees can survive even complete defoliation for a few years. Gypsy moth infestations can be unsightly and worrisome to homeowners who are concerned for the health of their trees. These pests can be controlled through early identification and intervention, but in the worst case, these infestations are cyclical and will pass on their own after a few years. The presence of an infestation can be reported at https://www.michigan.gov/invasives. For further information, the Michigan State University Department of Forestry has several publicly available resources for further research and consideration. Read on... Opens in New Window to learn more about Gypsy Moths.