Stinging nettles

[whellpower]

Due to an odd planning issue I'm not able to comprehend there is an are of land at the bottom of my garden which is not owned by me but I have access to. The owner doesn't keep it kepin in any way and not only is it an eyesore but every year huge stinging nettles grow there which is not great for when we have kids at the house and its just really annoying.
The owner isnt really bothered, he says if i want to i can tend the area but he wont ost likely because its not next to his home and in fairness he probably doesnt and never wanted the land and tending it would be a job he doesnt want.
I want to put something down there that will stop the weed cycle every year but willnot damage the land long term just in case the neighbor decides he does want to useit one day and accuses me of killing his land.
Is there any form of long term but not permanent way of stopping them from growing? any suggestions are appreciated.

[Nicos]

Why not ask his permission to use it for growing veg?

[whellpower]

Why not ask his permission to use it for growing veg?

I never really thought about it, the soil is very clay like and it is a fairly boggy, what could i grow in those conditions?

[Scarlet]

I'm on clay, it can be boggy in the winter but it's fine during the late Spring/Summer. How boggy is it?

Ifyou don't want to grow on it. Can you just mow or strim it?

[Bigmallly]

If you don't want to grow on it, collect & soak the nettles for a high Nitrogen feed.

[Aberdeenplotter]

How big an area is this?
I'd personally be spraying with a glyphosate based weedkiller as the nettles emerge in spring and thereafter as needed and then consider growing some veg

[Nicos]

I never really thought about it, the soil is very clay like and it is a fairly boggy, what could i grow in those conditions?

Gosh yes!...our first allotment site was heavy clay with a solid pan about 18" down.
We just had to dig a few drainage channels, add loads of compost etc to lighten it up .
It took ages to warm up in the Spring so we couldn't get started until a bit later...but we eventually had 3 full sized plots and the produce we could grow was brill!

Go for it! Raised beds might be the easiest way?

[Guest]

You can spray with glyphoshate but I find the blighters pop back the following season. The best way I have found to get rid of them is cultivation, so might as well grow veg.

[burnie]

Can you buy it?

[Nicos]

^^^^ love that idea!!!

I'd be there like a shot if it were next to my property!

[sparrow100]

I'd be doing the same as BM and collecting them regularly to add to compost or soak to make a nitrogen feed. As long as you're not harvesting them in flower there's no risk of adding seeds to your compost.

But if you can grow on it I'd be clearing them out and sticking cucurbits and brassicas in there this year. Squashes are great for shading out weed growth, and brassicas aren't overly bothered by a few weeds after all...Unless I had a formal agreement or bought the land I wouldn't invest much/any money in it though. Am waaay too cynical.

[vixylix]

I just assumed you wanted to grow veg on it! If you can get the nettles under control you could consider putting some raised beds in, then if at some point the owner does want it back you've not causes too much disruption and can dismantle the beds. doesnt sound likely that he wants it at all though! Could be worth getting an informal written agreement that he is happy for you to use the land though - doesnt do any harm!