Getting rid of nettles?

Anyone got any magic techniques for iradicating nettles? There's an area of our garden that borders the woods and I'd like to keep it fairly wild but useable - with meadow flowers/ grasses etc. It's packed full of nettles, though, and as much as I cut them down they keep coming back bigger and stronger.

 

They are a pest, aren't they!

Cutting them down will only encourage their growth. To eradicate, I'm afraid you'll have to get in there with a fork and trowel and dig the blighters' roots out!

However, if you're not that energetic, then try some Roundup which you spray on the leaves and watch them fade away. But it's quite indiscriminate so if you have other plants there that you want to keep, take great care not to let the spray get on them. The spray is harmless to wildlife and pets as soon as it is dry but takes several days to work its way through the plants system to the roots where it works its evil magic!!! :eek:

Good luck!!

[ 20. June 2005, 10:48 PM: Message edited by: michaelmasdaisy ]

 

I have the same kind of thing in my garden. I have made an imaginary line beyond which no nasties are allowed and i am rutheless. Behind the line i chop some back but leave the rest to its own devices. The longer i do this the more it seems to work as the nice things get stronger and thicker.

 

Thanks for both your suggestions. I like the imaginary line idea. I'll let you know how I get on!

 

Roundup will work but to be most effective catch them just when they start to grow early in the season. But then of course the really deadly one is Gromoxone if you can get it but be careful it will kill everything including grass and you!

 

This is what came up when i put nettles in as the keyword here
http://www.garden-care.org.uk/GardenCare/default.asp
(there is a box to check if you prefer to garden orgasmically )


Search Results:

Doff Tree Stump & Tough Weed Killer
Doff Ready-to-use: granules

Doff Tough Weedkiller Spray
Doff Ready-to-use: liquid

Roundup Tough Weedkiller
Scotts Concentrated: liquid

Roundup GC
Scotts Concentrated: liquid

Roundup Ultra 3000
Scotts Concentrated: liquid

Roundup Tough Weedkiller Ready to Use
Scotts Ready-to-use: liquid

Casoron G4 Weedbarrier
Vitax Ready-to-use: granules

 

Hi
Use Grazon 90 if you can get it. You may have to get some off a farmer friend but it the killer for nettles, much better than Roundup