Author Topic: Digging up nettles (Read 4356 times)

escapedtothecountry · « **on:** May 20, 2012, 08:09:21 pm »

As you can see from the photo.. when we got our place we couldn't even see this pond (and another now filled in) due to all the nettles.

Three wheelie bins full of just the roots later and I think some headway has been made.

Do you have to get every scrap of root out like some other plants to be sure they won't grow back... as some seem to have the strength of steel cables when trying to prize them out of the ground!

www.escapedtothecountry.com

Fleecewife · « **Reply #1 on:** May 20, 2012, 08:14:06 pm »

Yes you have to get out every bit, including the tiny yellow filaments. Then when you've done that you realise they propagate themselves by seed as well

deepinthewoods · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2012, 08:48:49 pm »

i just tease the roots out with the fork and keep teasing tilli reach the end of the root run, how useful it is that they are yellow!!

LulaB · « **Reply #3 on:** May 20, 2012, 09:31:40 pm »

Use the nettles! Put everything in a plastic sack and let it rot. Either that or put it in a barrel (with a lid - you'll need it - it stinks) with water. Nettle tonic for your veg plot.

Then hire a flame weeder and make 4 (yes 4) passes over the ground after it has rained. The rain creates steam which kills everything much more efficiently. You'll leave nice rich potash debris in the ground.

escapedtothecountry · « **Reply #4 on:** May 20, 2012, 11:04:39 pm »

It isn't the nettles per se that it the issue but the roots larger than many tree roots that have woven a think carpet and got down well over 1 foot across a huge area.

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #5 on:** May 21, 2012, 02:25:17 am »

Piggies!

Or, mulch carpet / tarp for many months, after which the roots will be much easier to pull out of the now quite friable soil. At least, that worked for me on my plot in Exmoor some years ago. I guess growing potatoes and then having another go at the nettle roots once the spuds are lifted would come to much the same thing.

I guess chemicals would also work

chairmanphil · « **Reply #6 on:** May 21, 2012, 09:27:53 pm »

nettles are like a virus here! never rid of them. but as for the roots yes every little bit!

Plantoid · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2012, 11:15:05 pm »

Grazon gets rid of nettles a treat .
Cut them down , rake off the cut nettles for the liquid feed . Don't use the compost heap asthey aren't usually killed in it if there are any seeds there .

When the regrowth is 3 inches tall zap them with the correct mix of grazon and bob's you uncle no more nettles in that area. If you rotavate the area you may well need re treat the new germination of nettle seeds that have lain dormant for many years in the soils

One good thing though is that if you can grow nettles you can grow almost all UK veg crops as the pH is ideal in most cases.