MADISON, WI (WTAQ) - Thanks to the warm winter, the growing season for invasive plants started early in Wisconsin.

The DNR says people should especially be on the lookout for garlic mustard, which can take over the grounds of entire forests and crowd out native wildflowers like trilliums.

Garlic mustard is a plant that smells like garlic. It normally has four small white petals.

Landowners normally pull up the plants in April and May – but with the early spring, the DNR says they might have to do it sooner this year.

Seed pods are expected to mature by the middle of May.

Officials say any garlic mustard plants that are pulled must be burned, buried, or sent to a landfill. Otherwise, they’ll keep growing and produce seeds.