How to get rid of nettles in the garden: the most effective ways

Nettle is a herbaceous perennial that can become a real aggressor in the garden. And it's not just about physical burns caused by contact with the leaves. Nettles deplete the soil very quickly, leaving almost no nutrients for other crops.

OBOZ.UA figured out how to get rid of nettles in the garden. Effective measures will also prevent the growth of other weeds.

How to remove nettles

Nettles quickly take over the beds, abundantly covering everything around with their small seeds. There are several effective ways to remove nettles and other weeds without resorting to radical chemical methods.

First, you should take care of safety and protection: wear gloves and appropriate clothing to protect the skin of your hands and feet as much as possible. Pants should be made of thick fabric, and sweaters should be long-sleeved. This will reduce the risk of irritation and burns caused by even lightly touching the leaves.

The easiest way is manual removal. Simply grab the nettle by the shoot and pull it out by the roots. It is important to be careful not to scatter the seeds of the plant.

Can nettles be mowed

Experts say that nettles can be mowed with a chopper, trimmer, or lawn mower. This method will be relevant if the plants have grown over a large area.

Even root removal of nettles will be beneficial – cutting off the tops inhibits growth. However, there are also nuances – this method often leads to seed dispersal, that is, nettles can suddenly appear in a neighboring garden.

Mulching method

Mulching a nettle bed is easy – just mow the weed and cover it with a thick layer of mulch. You will also need straw or tree bark. This blocks access to light, which inhibits the growth of nettles.

Will digging up the garden help?

Experts say that this is an effective method. The bed should be dug to a depth of 30-40 cm. Nettles often have long roots, so the treatment should be deep enough.

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