Persistent with the help of their root runners
If the nettle has taken a liking to its location, it will be stubborn. It spreads through its subterranean root runners. The root system is highly branched and over time a whole sea of nettles arises with it on the surface.
also read
- Planting nettles is worth it
- New mulch is needed: the stinging nettle
- Freezing the nettle - how does it work?
Take action quickly
Do not let the nettles sprawl before you take action to combat them! The faster you are and the sooner you start, the better. Ideally, you should plant the plants before planting the Heyday destroy in July. Otherwise they will multiply via self-sowing in addition to their root runners.
How to recognize nettles correctly
It is not uncommon for nettles to be confused with dead nettles and vice versa. Also the different ones Stinging nettle species have different peculiarities. The dead nettles have no burning hairs and develop purple flowers.
The large nettle differs from the small nettle in terms of its leaves and height. It grows up to 3 m high and has pointed leaves
Saw teeth. The small stinging nettle rises up to a maximum of 60 cm and has rounded saw teeth.Lend a hand to remove: weeding and pulling out roots
The most effective and environmentally friendly is mechanical control:
- ideal: moist soil or previous downpour (earth is looser)
- with Digging fork or spade Dig up the earth
- or cut out with a dandelion cutter
- The plant has shallow roots
- Remove roots completely
After removing the plants, it is advisable to cover the affected areas with a thick layer of mulch. For example, lawn cuttings or bark mulch can be used for this. It is often necessary to fight the nettles several times (up to two years) until they are removed and permanently.
Remove by cutting / mowing or covering with foil
You can also get rid of the nettles with or by:
- a black foil cover or straw bale cover (put on top for 6 to 12 months)
- Dispatch of the stocks (recommended for larger areas)
- regular mowing
Chemical weed killers are an emergency solution
Do you belong to the division that believes that chemicals can only be used to permanently remove weeds? Even the best weed killer cannot 100% ensure that the nettles will go away forever. Chemical agents should be viewed as an emergency solution, as they pollute the groundwater and can also damage surrounding plants.
Nettle - a good home remedy for other weeds
You can use the stinging nettles to make a liquid manure. This can kill vermin such as aphids. This liquid manure can also be used biologically as a fertilizer. It also destroys other, annoying weeds.
Tips
If you care about your environment, leave a few nettles. Butterflies like to lay their eggs there and the caterpillars use the leaves as food.
