You need to remove the scape as otherwise the garlic plant will put all it's effort into creating 'bulbils' (miniscule bulbs) in the scape, as the expense of the bulb in the ground.
1. A garlic scape just developing.
2. The scape has further developed and is leaning over.
3. The scape has now turned into a hook.
You want to snap off the garlic scape as soon as you notice it. This is because the plant will put all it's energy into developing the scape, at the expense of the bulbs in the ground. The scapes turn into flowers that produce 'bulbils', tiny bulbs, which are interesting per se, but not if you want to actually harvest some garlic bulbs!
4. Snap the scape off at this point.
5. The scape section left of the plant may still grow a little more, but will then stop, viz:
6. Don't waste the garlic scapes, as they can be eaten!
A lot of people make Garlic Scape Pesto (think normal pesto but with garlic scapes included). However, I tend to just chop it up and add it into whatever I'm cooking at the time, such as omelettes or a curry. You can add it into any dish you might add garlic to. The Garlic Farm have a good list of suggestions if you want further inspiration. The scapes have a milder flavour compared to the bulbs.
So, if you notice these developing on your garlic, now you'll know what to do with them.
Updated: 1st June 2020
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If you would like to know more about growing garlic, do check out my Spoonie Veg: Garlic post.
