best way to tackle stinging nettles?

raven83

hi i need tl tackle the big lots of stingers at the bottom of my garden, what is the best way to get rid of them and keep them gone? thanks in advance!:j

Sambucus_Nigra

Dig the roots out.

Farway

As above, but wait until they die down, or cut the tops off & compost them before digging roots out

Owain_Moneysaver

Farway wrote: »

cut the tops off & compost them

And what's wrong with nettle soup? This is MSE!

SailorSam

Nettles are good for attracting butterflies etc, i'd leave some and just cut down the rest.

gardenroute

A lot of conflicting advice above but IMHO its all right.

1. Nettles are an important plant for many species of insect so if there only at the bottom of the garden it might be worth leaving a patch - at least for soup or compost.

http://www.nettles.org.uk/nettles/wildlife.asp

2. Cutting the tops off will kill them eventually - a regular strim or mow will weaken them and allow grasses, etc to take over.

3. Digging the roots out will also work. The roots are shallow and yellow as well so they can be identified and dug out easily.

TBH at this time of year, they are not going to spread much more until the spring so it can be left until next year.

I_luv_cats

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

And what's wrong with nettle soup? This is MSE!

Nettle tea

raven83

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

And what's wrong with nettle soup? This is MSE!

haha excellent idea lol

raven83

gardenroute wrote: »

A lot of conflicting advice above but IMHO its all right.

1. Nettles are an important plant for many species of insect so if there only at the bottom of the garden it might be worth leaving a patch - at least for soup or compost.

http://www.nettles.org.uk/nettles/wildlife.asp

2. Cutting the tops off will kill them eventually - a regular strim or mow will weaken them and allow grasses, etc to take over.

3. Digging the roots out will also work. The roots are shallow and yellow as well so they can be identified and dug out easily.

TBH at this time of year, they are not going to spread much more until the spring so it can be left until next year.

can you really make nettle soup?

londonsurrey

I've read about young nettle leaves being fried with garlic in an omelette, very like a spinach omelette.

peter_the_piper

Strim them and when they sprout use round up on them.