YES GARLIC MUSTARD IS PRESENT IN ELMIRA, ONTARIO

In fact it is present in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, P.E.I., and British Columbia with Alberta a maybe. Garlic Mustard is a European species brought to North America in the 1800s. It escaped domestic cultivation and is now considered an invasive species in both the U.S. and Canada. It inhabits forested areas both within and without city boundaries and leads to a decrease in biodiversity via chemicals in leaves in the soil as well as by decreasing beneficial fungi in the soil. The beneficial fungi normally assist in the transfer of nutrients in the soil to native plants and trees. Hence in the long run it can adversely affect normal forest canopy trees and even some domestic crops. Maple trees and hence maple syrup production could also be at long term risk from garlic mustard proliferation. Dairy cows who eat garlic mustard also can have the taste of their milk negatively affected. .................................................................................................................... There are on-line articles dealing with garlic mustard recognition, control and removal including from the province of Ontario. Oddly to date garlic mustard is not a controlled or regulated invasive species by either the province or by the federal government. Municipalities can pass by-laws insisting on either control of or removal of garlic mustard within their jurisdiction. Control or removal depends upon a number of factors including the size of the infestation. Various methods include pulling by hand, mowing/cutting and even just clipping of the flower heads to prevent the seed from being released. Obviously timing is crucial in the spring in order to attack the plants before their seeds are spread. Another method sometimes used is physically removing (pulling/burning etc.) as much as possible and then overplanting with another species.