Nettle: how to use it in the garden

Nettles are often considered a nuisance weed - but they can be quite useful. We name seven ways to use stinging nettles sensibly.

Nettles have an unjustified bad reputation because they can be used in a variety of ways both in the garden and in the kitchen. We take a stand for the valuable herb and present seven ways of using nettles below.

Nettles are found almost worldwide and are either annuals or perennial herbaceous plants with woody stems. In Germany one finds above all the common stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) and the small nettle (Urtica urens). The thousands of stinging hairs on the leaves and stems of the plants are well known and also give their name. When touched, they break like glass and release the fuel, which consists of formic acid, among other things, and causes painful wheals for animals and humans. Incidentally, the fine stinging hairs are always directed upwards, so you can stroke the handle from bottom to top without any danger. The roots and aerial parts were each also used to dye fabrics. While the leaves produce a greyish green, the alum and root produce a deep yellow.

1. Nettles for mulching and composting

As every gardener has probably already observed, nettles grow extremely quickly in good locations and thus form a lot of biomass. Perfect for spreading as a mulch layer on the beds. On the one hand, weeds germinate much more slowly or not at all because they lack light. On the other hand, soil organisms decompose the nettles over time and in turn provide nutrients to your plants in the bed. With a layer of mulch you also have to water less, since the covered soil does not lose as much water on hot summer days as open soil. In the compost, the nettle acts as a starting aid and thus speeds up the composting process even more. With the help of the well-fortified plant, a fertile layer of humus and well-ripened compost are created in no time.

2. Nettles as a pointer plant

Nettles act as so-called pointer or indicator plants, because they only grow in locations with special properties. Where they occur, the soil can be expected to have a high nitrogen content. In addition, nettle perennials often indicate moist and humus-rich soil. Typically, such locations are ideal for our heavy-duty vegetables such as tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), pumpkin (Cucurbita) or potatoes (Solanum tuberosum). The stinging nettle helps to track down areas in the garden that are particularly rich in nitrogen.

3. Use nettles as fertilizer

The use of stinging nettles as fertilizer should be well known, more precisely as liquid manure. This refers to fermented plant material that gradually releases its nutrients to water during fermentation. Nettle manure is particularly rich in nitrogen, potassium and micronutrients such as iron, magnesium and calcium and can therefore be given regularly as a full fertilizer. For the liquid manure, it is best to cut the still soft stems and leaves into small pieces and place them in an airtight bucket. If this is loosely filled with stinging nettles to the brim, rainwater is added until the material is well covered and then the container is closed. Now the manure needs about two to three weeks in a sunny, warm place until most of the plant parts have been decomposed.

When the broth is ready, you can strain it. Coarse stalk parts remain here that could not be decomposed. In a ratio of 1:10 to 1:20, mix the broth with plenty of irrigation water and use it to fertilize your plants - best on a cloudy day or just before it rains. This prevents valuable nutrients from simply evaporating. The mixing ratio depends on the nutrient requirements of the plants: 1:10 applies to heavy consumers, 1:20 or even smaller amounts to all others. A more detailed guide to Production of nettle broth and manure can be found here in our special article.

4. Nettles as a biological spray

However, nettles can not only be used as fertilizer. In the form of a broth, the extract can be used directly against all kinds of fungal diseases and pests, especially aphids. Here, the cut nettles are left to soak in water for a day or two and the broth is then filtered through a coffee filter, for example. Now spray the pests vigorously with the undiluted broth. On the one hand, the animals should be deterred from the broth and, on the other hand, the plant cells should be strengthened. If you want more about the natural pest control If you want to learn more, visit our article on the most popular home remedies.

5. Nettles as caterpillar food

For around 50 species of butterflies, the stinging nettles serve as an important source of food for their caterpillars. Some of ours most beautiful native butterflies such as the admiral, the peacock butterfly and the small tortoiseshell, but also some moth species such as the nettle mute owl prefer stinging nettles as a nursery. It is therefore incredibly important to leave the nettles in the garden for these partly endangered butterflies, at least until summer. Some of these species even feed exclusively on the defensive herb - so they are so-called monophages. It is all the more important to keep a few spots of wilderness and "weeds" in the garden and to enjoy the colorful winged insects in summer. As do the grown-ups make butterflies happy you can find out here.

6. Nettles as a medicinal plant

The nettle has been used as a medicinal plant for many centuries. The basic herb has proven particularly useful for water retention, rheumatic complaints and urinary tract infections. The young leaves are often harvested and gently air-dried to be brewed as tea later. But the fresh herb can also be brewed directly. To do this, put three to four teaspoons of nettle herb in a cup and pour 250 milliliters of boiling water on it. After about ten minutes, the herb is strained. You can drink this tea three times a day without hesitation.

7. nettles in the kitchen

Many mistrust nettles when it comes to food. Because the idea of ​​being pricked in the mouth and on the tongue probably doesn't appeal to anyone. But with a little trick you can get rid of the annoying stinging hairs on the leaves. After careful washing, you can roll a rolling pin over the hairs a couple of times, at the latest then the burning will be over. So you can enjoy a fresh nettle salad without any worries. The stinging nettle becomes a special treat when its leaves are cooked like spinach, i.e. overcooked. Stinging nettles also bring their healthy vitamins and nutrients to the kitchen in smoothies and soups. In addition, you can harvest the unripe seeds from July or the ripe, dark brown seeds, the so-called nutlets, from October. Dried and roasted, they develop a nutty aroma and are therefore suitable for salad dressings, but they also taste good in muesli and many other dishes. The seeds of the stinging nettle are rich in oils and nutrients and thus enrich our diet well into winter.

More supposed Weeds and their uses in the kitchen you'll find here.