susanbb Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 Hi, sorry if this has been posted before, but I was wondering if there were any natural type weed killers on the market please I only ask because I seem to have loads of stinging nettles multiplying around the garden. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted August 15, 2008 Share Posted August 15, 2008 I leave my nettles (in one patch) as they're a good source of food for butterflies. However I can see you don't want them everywhere - I usually pull up any others with stout gloves on, they don't root too deeply. I only use weedkiller on bramble because it's so hard to get rid of, and I only use glyphosate - it degrades naturally. Do be careful not to spray it on adjoining plants though, and I wouldn't let the chooks near even when it's dried. It takes several doses to kill a bramble but I'm guessing nettles might die off quite fast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffymuppet Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 Apparently wee (undiluted) makes a pretty good weedkiller, although several applications would be needed for a perennial plant like nettles! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 19, 2008 Share Posted August 19, 2008 I read yesterday that you shouldn't throw away boiling salted water after cooking veggies as it made a great weed killer. Worth a try and it's free! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckov Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 I thought vinegar was supposed to kill weeds (acidic?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted August 20, 2008 Share Posted August 20, 2008 It probably is. I read the boiling salt water tip yesterday in an article about frugal living compiled by WI members. Vinegar is notoriously effective in all manner of things so may well kill weeds too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 21, 2008 Share Posted August 21, 2008 My neighbour heats the vinegar up before pouring it on weeds. Smells like a fish n chip shop sometimes. . Soon fades though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenanne Posted September 2, 2008 Share Posted September 2, 2008 The salt in the water, or acidity of vinegar, will kill some weeds, but the salt will remain in the soil and damage new seedlings etc. I'd only use it on pathways, personally. It must be better (environmentally) than risidual weedkillers like "pathclear" and the like htough. At least with gypsophilate (sp?) it is netralised in soil so really does kill the plant you spray it on and nothing else; personally I'd say buy some gloves and weed the netteles out by hand, or else use gyps if you really have to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorkshire Pudding Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 I use glyphosate - it can't harm anything except green plants because it only interferes with photosynthesis. It's less toxic than salt and biodegrades completely so it won't affect anything you sow subsequently. The soapy surfactant they put in to spread it on the leaves is more dangerous than the glyphosate ingredient! It may not be on the organics list but it's the only thing that gets rid of the perennials. Just watch out for drift - it's easy to get it where you don't want it. It's also useful for writing rude messages on lawns but that's another story... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted December 11, 2008 Share Posted December 11, 2008 chop them down & eat any new growth makes lovely soup eventually nettles get fed up of being cropped & die off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted December 12, 2008 Share Posted December 12, 2008 I would have thought that if you had enough salt in your veg water for killing weeds, you would not be having a very healthy diet!!! I never put any salt in my veg water (or cakes) as there is so much salt in food these days anyway. I like to save my daily salt ration for my chips!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...