The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Growing => Gardens => Topic started by: Eastling on May 01, 2011, 10:34:47 pm
-
Hi does anyone have any tips for removing nettles, when we moved here last year i strimmed it. It has now started to grow again and in some places its getting to knee high. I have been digging up the roots but it is a back aching job!
Have considered weed killer but not sure what to use.
-
Nettles strimmed will just come back, and the root system just rejuvenates……If you wont to save time and your back!… and are prepared to use a weed killer then I can recommend either Gallup 25ml per litre of water using a nap sack sprayer or similar. This will kill your nettles off plus anything else green and growing in the area so tread careful when using.
Then there is Grazon 90 a selective broad leaved weed killer that wont kill off your grass just the broad leaved weeds 60mls per 10 litre of water using a nap sack sprayer will also do the job…..Just watch out for your plants or shrubs as spray drifting will have a impact.
Both products can be purchased from farm supplies and do the job the say they do very well. I’ve used both products for years and happy with the results
It’s a very personal choice using any form of chemicals on the land as it does have a impact on wildlife, I always have ample areas set aside just for this…. But if my land was very limited I would prioritize and use weed control as my choice
Hope this helps
Dave
-
I've sort of changed my attitude to nettles which has helped alot and they don't bother me so much now. They are nitrogen fixing (I think) and great on the compost heap.
This website is interesting: http://www.nettles.org.uk//nettles/people/garden.asp (http://www.nettles.org.uk//nettles/people/garden.asp)
I have started to ferment nettles with sheep poo for liquid fertilizer and pick them for the worms and compost heap periodically.
I tend to leave any nettles that aren't specifically bugging me for the butterflies etc. Due to the fact that they (the nettles) aren't generally eaten by herbivores, they act as a safe refuge for many insects, ladybirds, aphids etc which in turn provide food for birds etc.
If I need to pull them up then I don't find them hard to pull up - the roots tend to be fairly superficial and often come up in a satisfying array.
I quite like the sensation of the sting which is meant to have anti-rheumatic properties - so often I will pull the nettles up bare-handed :dunce: :dunce: :dunce:
-
"I quite like the sensation of the sting" - OW!!!!
-
;D ;) 8)
-
Thanks for the replies. I to have been stung many times!! but don't find it a particular pleasure.
Our problem is we have 5 acres and the last owner did nothing, so we have nettles in the garden as well as the land. I don't mind them in the field, but would like to control then in and around the garden. I also have the pigs very close to the house so am a little concerned that the weed killer would seep through to their area. I guess I'll have to do that bit by hand. I am also making nettle fertiliser but am sure we have enough to continue this!! ;D
Thanks again for the info.
-
I have been collecting nettles ready for some home brew, when I manage to get it all together,
I quite like the sensation of the sting" - OW!!!!
I know what you mean about the sting, I had tingly fingers for the day after picking with the wrong gloves on!!!
Nettles are full or protien so why not use them as a crop!!!
-
I used to think the sting was okay and then cleared a largeish patch wearing a T-shirt, shorts and no gloves. (Me, not the patch.) I couldn't sleep for the tingly legs, all the next day they tingled to a very distracting extent, and I was then hyper-allergic to nettles for years and years.
I'm back to normal with them now, but you can be sure I wear protective clothing to do more than pull up a few bits that are between me and a tap.
-
i read once that African ladies rubbed nettels on there breasts cant remember the reason :o :o :wave:
-
Glyphosate (Round-up)!
You can dig up a few, but that many...... The other thing is Pastor, but it's much nastier stuff :-\
-
::)[quotei read once that African ladies rubbed nettels on there breasts cant remember the reason][/quote] ::)worth a try ;)
-
Sandy let us know how you get on with that!
SallyintNorth I always wear gloves and long sleeves or would end up with shares in piriton tabs!
Have decided to use weed killer will have a read up on those recommended and wait for a less windy day before applying!
Thanks again for the info the nettle link is very interesting
-
I have been strimming mine for a couple of years and collecting them up and either drying them to put in horse food or making them into fertilizer. I have noticed that they are getting less and less
-
when im clearing them for work, first option is always chemical, second is dig out as much as possible, lastly they can be controlled by continuos cutting (weekly) eventually this will starve the roots!!!
for all of you who enjoy being stung all I can say is rather you than me!!!
-
I spent most of yesterday pm digging them up around the pig area, i throw lots over the fence to them as they seem to have given up on clearing their area! Some of the roots were as thick as two thumbs! giving my back a rest today, just cut the grass instead! Just made another back of nettle fertiliser. but only makes a small dent. Will continue with strimming/digging up roots until get a chance to get weed killer this weekend. I assume it would work better on newly cut nettles or better to leave then as they are and spray as a whole?
-
if your going to spray at all stop cutting the spray is absorbed through the leaves!!!
-
Thanks will do
-
Ditto what bloomer says..... and if you go for Grazon 90 preferably spray nettels before they are in full flower.... Hopefully this time next year your be glad you did :)
Dave
-
Just seen a recipe in home brewing for nettle wine!! might have to pick some ( before spraying weed killer) ;)
-
Tee Hee now even I could be tempted to give that ago ;D ;D
Dave
-
I haven't space this year to spray and rest paddocks in turn so was out yesterday with a short scythe swinging the nettles away from the first paddock fences ::) I leave them lying and once dry the ponies will eat them but I have a lot of fencelines and worse there are signs of ragwort coming up which could mean a backbreaking summer all round cos by the time I've scythed nettles it'll be straight on to pulling/digging ragwort ::)
If I could just get enough grass growing to not be feeding hay at the same time I'd know it was summer backbreaking work rather than winter backbreaking work but both at once is a bit much :(
-
Yes - but contaminate the soil
Whilst I appreciate that salt is a naturally occuring chemical, too much will raise the soil salinity which will degrade the soil and it's ability to support vegetation.
(Sorry - this looks a bit odd as it was in response to somebody suggesting pouring salt on the areas where the nettles had been cut - but it seems to have been removed now)
-
Spent Sunday spraying with Grazon can see that it is working! Still have some areas to do but very windy here at the mo
-
That Grazon 90 is the dogs thats for sure .
I cleared 1 1/2 acres of mainly chest high nettles in shrubs and a hundred plus or so of saplings /trees after using my self propelled strimmer on it and letting the beasts come back up to 6 inches tall .
Only ever do the Grazon in the growing season on new growth not autumn or winter when the plant is closing down or almost dormant .
It took two applications a month apart to really hammer them and then an occasional clean up of the odd one or two bits that I'd missed previously .
I seem to remember that stock could graze fairly soon after each spraying .
-
I haven't space this year to spray and rest paddocks in turn so was out yesterday with a short scythe swinging the nettles away from the first paddock fences ::) I leave them lying and once dry the ponies will eat them but I have a lot of fencelines and worse there are signs of ragwort coming up which could mean a backbreaking summer all round cos by the time I've scythed nettles it'll be straight on to pulling/digging ragwort ::)
If I could just get enough grass growing to not be feeding hay at the same time I'd know it was summer backbreaking work rather than winter backbreaking work but both at once is a bit much :(
There is an advert for a weed extractor on TV a Fiskar or something like that name ..
They work and save your back as does Round up in a weed syringe but because of the toxicity of the ragwort your better off with the remover and a barrow to cart them out the fields/ paddocks .
-
The nettles have turned black and are dry after using Grazon, my question is do i leave them to rot down or is it best to pull them up or strim them?
-
::)[quotei read once that African ladies rubbed nettels on there breasts cant remember the reason]
::)worth a try ;)
[/quote]
Why would anyone want to do that!!! :o Ipick nettles let them wilt and feed to my pony overnight mixed with hay he loves them.
-
Hi Eastling glad to hear you had good results :)......If your happy enough to leave them to rot down that will be fine....strim them if you wish. Just occasionally you will get very small signs of regrowth on very large rooted nettles but only occasionally, just give the individuals that do another small spray as the leaves appear.
Dave
-
Bad enough getting stung on the hands can't imagine what it would be like else where!!
We don't have ponies and they were nearly chest height and taking over usable land. I have used some for making fertilizer, the pigs can only eat so many, so next option weed killer which has worked a treat. Will have to spot spray some that were missed but happy to do that.
Want to use some of the area for ducks and chickens so hence the question on cutting/pulling up
Glentarki just seen your reply yes very pleased with results hopefully will make life easier and manageable no ;D
-
Just spent a very satisfying half hour scytheing all our big nettle clumps in the paddocks
Oooooh - cut 'em off at the knees :D :D
Then off into a potato sack with some sheep sh1t to make liquid fertilizer.
-
We certainly know how to spent a weekend!
MyOH has spent the afternoon strimming and mowing the nettles, looks so much better.
Bless him hes just had a chinese takeaway and has gone for a little snooze, being sat at a desk all day doesn't help with his stamina for manuel labour at the weekends!
-
Lol, what other way is there to spend weekends? Strimming seaves/thistles/nettles/docken, re-building walls ..... you can see why my OH sometimes dreams of a semi-detached in town :D
-
lol we are due rain today so he wont want to be doing anything outside today! but i have jobs to do inside ;D