Nettles

Helen-1971

We moved into a rented property at the start of the year so my first year in an unknown garden. The landlady pointed out an area of current bushes which I have started to tidy by pulling out old raspberry canes (there are lots of healthy canes interspersed among the bushes) and nettle stems from last year. There are lots of fresh nettles starting to grow and would like some advice if there is anything I can spray on them to kill them without affecting the bushes. I tried to dig/pull them out but the bushes are very overgrown and don’t appear to have been pruned well if at all. A job which I set out to do but they look nothing like the bushes in how to videos, growing against a wall with lots of growth close to ground and growing sideways away from wall. Any advice appreciated

Hostafan1

glyphosate ( roundup ) works a treat on nettles, especially at this time of year when they start earlier than most things around them

Lyn

If it were me, I would cut all the green off and put it in the compost first,    Then dig out the roots.  
Glyphosate only worked for me for the first year, they were all back the second, so I don’t bother now,   I do keep a very large nettle bed for butterfly’s, so try not to take them alll out, think of the wildlife as well that share your garden. 

Anything growing to close to a wall with lean out, it’s looking for the light, and won’t get very much rain.  Maybe you can transplant the best canes to a more suitable area? 

debs64

I agree maybe move the best canes and then just chop back all the nettles and cover with black plastic. I am no expert but there has been concern recently about glysophate and it’s effects on bees. I would never use it but obviously it’s your choice. 

Lyn

Same here, although I did try it when we first came here, but never now. 

debs64

I actually have a bottle of round up I was going to try on bindweed but it’s unopened!

Hostafan1

debs64 said:

I agree maybe move the best canes and then just chop back all the nettles and cover with black plastic. I am no expert but there has been concern recently about glysophate and it’s effects on bees. I would never use it but obviously it’s your choice. 

Herbicides have an effect on insects? I've not seen that evidence.

owd potter

Hiya Helen,
The key word here is 'rented'
Before removing anything substantial, or if you are planning any kind of changes, make sure you clear it with the Landlord first.
I'm sure you are aware, but easy to overlook such trivialities in the eagerness to get stuck in;
Owd

debs64

Hosta there was a very interesting discussion on the subject of weed killers harming insects last year on the forum. I don’t think any definite conclusion was come to but I now don’t use it just to be on the safe side obviously it’s everyone’s own choice. 

Hostafan1

My apiarist friend who keeps 5 bee hives in our garden, and I guess knows more about bees than I ever will,  said " use whatever herbicides you like, but be careful of insecticides" I've not used any insecticides in over 30 years .

Lots of rubbish is spouted by well meaning people which is rarely backed up by any real evidence. Scare stories , paranoia and conspiracy theories abound everywhere these days , and gardening is no exception.

Lyn

There’s a certain butterfly that lay their eggs on nettles alone, I’m frightened of making someone homeless 😀
theres no point in having buddleia bushes if you don’t have nettles.