Nettles are a nuisance for many gardeners. While they have their place in nature and are useful for some animal species, they can quickly become a nuisance in the garden. What helps against nettles in the garden without resorting to chemicals? For tips on naturally controlling and preventing nettles, check out this article.
Combat nettles naturally
Nettles: Useful but often undesirable
According to the German Federal Agency for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), stinging nettles are important plants for many species of butterflies. They provide food and are breeding grounds for some insects. In the garden, however, they can quickly take over.
Natural defense strategies against nettles
- Weeding by hand: With gardening gloves you can carefully pull out stinging nettles. This works best when the soil is moist.
- mulching: A layer of bark mulch or straw can stunt nettle growth.
- floor care: Regular loosening of the soil can disrupt nettle growth.
Chemical-free alternatives for nettle control
There are natural herbicides that can control stinging nettles without harming the garden. An example is a mixture of vinegar, salt and dish soap. But be careful: this mixture can also damage other plants.
What helps against nettle in the garden? Getting rid of nettles in the garden
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Prevention is better than cure
- soil analysis: An examination of the garden soil can provide information on why stinging nettles feel particularly comfortable. If necessary, the soil environment can be changed by adding compost or other natural fertilizers.
- plant competing plants: Some hardy plants like the marigold can naturally displace stinging nettles.
Tips and tricks for naturally controlling nettles in the garden
- Boiling water: Pour boiling water over the nettles. This damages the plant and prevents further growth.
- Dense planting: Plant your garden so densely that the nettles have no room to grow.
- nettle manure: Ironically, nettle manure itself can be used as a natural herbicide against pests. How to use stinging nettles sensibly!
- mowing: Regular mowing prevents nettles from seeding and spreading further.
- ground cover: Plant ground covers like clover or thyme. These prevent the growth of stinging nettles and also look pretty.
Tips against nettles
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- Natural enemies: Encourage settlement of nettle feeders such as caterpillars. They help reduce the nettle population.
- nettle tea: Instead of just throwing away the nettles, you can collect them and make a healthy tea. Nettle tea has many health benefits.
- Be careful when weeding: When weeding nettles by hand, always wear gloves and long sleeves to avoid skin irritation.
- Get out to the top: When plucking stinging nettles, you should make sure to catch the last piece of the root – this is the only way to avoid a rude awakening with new shoots.
- composting? But hot! Toss the nettles on the compost and make sure it’s sizzling. This is the only way for the small seeds not to have a chance of a second life in the bed.
Nettle-free garden: What helps against nettles in the garden?
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With these small but useful tips you can keep stinging nettles at bay and use them sensibly for your garden at the same time.
Conclusion
Nettles can be a real challenge in the garden. But with the right methods and a little patience, they can be successfully combated and prevented. It is worth using natural methods to protect the environment and your own garden.
Environmentally friendly methods against nettles
