Nettle roots

[Jeanied]

My plot was neglected last year, due to ill health. To be honest, it probably wasn't in good shape before that

I am now digging up big patches of nettles - using the tops on the compost, and putting the rooted stem parts in the 'drying patch' to dry off and then compost.

My question is - do I need to get rid of the tough yellow roots that refuse to get dug out? I have pulled and pulled and some of them are very difficult to remove.

How far down do I need to go to stop them regenerating? RHS say they will re-grow from a node but as far as I can see the root is just root, no nodes in sight.

Any advice gratefully received - and I don't use weedkiller.

[Alison]

Just do the best you can and that will weaken the plant. You can then pull up any bits that grow as they come up. Eventually they do get fed up go growing and are nowhere near as bad as couch grass or bind weed.


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[Jeanied]

I hope so Alison. I was relieved to find that the ash seedlings don't regenerate at root level, was hoping the nettles would be the same Sadly I also have couch grass, creeping thistle and bindweed but those I can nag out of existence I am sure. Thank the lord we don't have mare's tail or ground elder on the plots! And I quite enjoy dealing with the big comfrey roots - I can either crop the leaves or dig down and crack them with a very satisfying crunch.

[Glutton4...]

In my experience Nettles always come back. The hard woody pale yellow roots are satisfying to dig out, if you can. The more stringy bright yellow parts tend to stretch like elastic when pulled, then snap off, but we have heavy clay, and that tends to glue them in place. covering them just encourages them to run.

We have a large run of them alongside the drive, but I leave them for the Bees and Butterflies, then mow them after they've flowered.

[Bal]

We have a large run of them alongside the drive, but I leave them for the Bees and Butterflies, then mow them after they've flowered.[/QUOTE]

You could Use them to make nettle tea.

[Jeanied]

Sadly Bal these are on the allotment plot that I rent- and I have to keep the plot weed free. There are several large patches by the fence for the wildlife. I put the tops either in a bucket to make stinky tea, or on the compost pile - onto my third this year now

[Two_Sheds]

do I need to get rid of the tough yellow roots

yes you do. that's perennial nettle, so it'll just keep coming back at ya.


Cut the roots with secateurs as you fork them out, a bit at a time

[Jeanied]

yes you do. that's perennial nettle, so it'll just keep coming back at ya.
Cut the roots with secateurs as you fork them out, a bit at a time

Oh dear, that is bad news to me - I am sure all these nettles are due to horse poo. Never mind, I have sharpened my secateurs now so it is off to work I go. Hey ho.

[Glutton4...]

You may well be right about the Hoss poo, Jeanie. I mulched my old garden with the stuff, and spent the next few years trying to get on top of nettles and docks.