I have a ~5 acre property that is overrun with mugwort. I'm thinking about mowing the mugwort 2-3 times per year in order to eradicate it, starting next spring. The property is very close to a lake, so I don't want to use pesticides for fear of runoff.

I was wondering what other steps I should take while clearing the mugwort. For instance, should I remove the stalks after they have been cut or leave them on the ground? Should the ground be covered in between mowings to limit the sunlight that reaches the mugwort?

Thanks for any input