craftyhunnypie Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Hiya- We've been over at our Smallholding on Wednesday measuring up etc. Whilst there we have noticed quite a large patch of nettles on the land, quite near the house. About 20metres by 20 metres. How can we clear them? Do we need a brush cutter, a clearing saw or will a heavy duty petrol strimmer do the job? We have seen some Stihl clearing saws, but they were mighty expensive. So thought I'd ask here first. The grass on the field has grown a lot since we were last there, but not worried about that immediately. It'sthese nettles that stung us that are the pain. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Lawnmower? Burn them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 17, 2011 Author Share Posted June 17, 2011 Erm they are 2 foot hgh & I don't want to ruin the land, plus it's very near the house! Are Ryobi a good make? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 Blimey, big patch OH did a weed kill on our allotment, 3 weeks later we can plant Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 we had a patch and i think we pulled them up , obviously wear gloves the roots are just under the ground, so they are easy to pull up. or you could make nettle tea ok, i know that wasnt helpful cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 As said above, they're not deep-rooted. Just wear gloves/long sleeves and dig them up. You'll need to dig the ground anyway presumably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 17, 2011 Share Posted June 17, 2011 We have a petrol strimmer with a double handle It was from Homebase and has brush cutter and normal strimmer attachments, either will do nettles At about £100 it was a bargain and we have used it a lot at the field and at home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjp Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 roudup is the best option as it will kill the roots which on a patch that size will be lika a carpet under ground then dig the roots out and burn or take to the tip.you might still need to use the weedkiller again later in the year or next spring on any missed roots that will regrow and the seedlings Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 Digging up Nettles is a nightmare,as they have long,thin,strong roots. I would go for a good weedkiller that will kill the roots. It will take a while,but they will die off totally. Something like Glysophate (*sp) In the meantime, pasta with nettle sauce is delicious Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 I'd say spray with round up or pathclear, let them die down and then possibly cover with black plastic for a season if you can stand it? then take the plastic off in the spring and dig out or respray as necessary. you have my sympathy, we have masses of the beastly things; in the wild places I just leave them for the butterflies etc, but when they encroach on MY space they have to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forestchook Posted June 18, 2011 Share Posted June 18, 2011 We like to pull our nettles up. I thought cutting them down just encourages them to grow. If you do pull them up I recomend wearing welding gauntlets, or similar. They are nice and thick and also have long cuffs(?) so more of your forearm is protected. They are also brilliant for handling brambles or other prickly vegitation as i find the throns can go through standard gardening gloves. Anyway, once you get the worst of it out could you get your chickens to take care of the rest? N Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 18, 2011 Author Share Posted June 18, 2011 Thanks to all - but especially to Redwing! That tool sounds exactly what we need. Off to look on Homebase website now. This nettle area is to have a building put on it anyway - so a strimmer would be good. We'd also be able to keep the track to the house clear & the edges of the stream etc. Thanks for the tip off Tasha! We were thinking of all things you can do with nettles - nettle soup was my first idea. Do goats eat nettles? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 If you Google it,there are loads of recipes,from pasta sauces (which I have done & it was wonderful) to Beer & Cordial. You use the growing tips of the plants,so save them if you can Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted June 19, 2011 Author Share Posted June 19, 2011 So they don't sting your mouth? I could bung them in the vitamix - nettle revenge! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted June 19, 2011 Share Posted June 19, 2011 Cooking kills the sting - they are amazingly good for you too...very high in vitamins Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gongladosh Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 nettle tea! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 1, 2011 Share Posted July 1, 2011 Nettle soup is quite nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted July 9, 2011 Share Posted July 9, 2011 Nettle soup is lovely - bit like watercress soup. Pop some cream in and whoohoo. Shlurp! Eat with some cheese scones to dunk in there! Of course you can always use nettles to make fertilizer - like comfrey. Nettles mean fertile soil! We dig ours up, but I like to keep a small patch out of the way for wildlife and for me to eat (OH not fond of watercress soup and therefore not fussed with the nettles so he made lots for me to go in the freezer)! Oh, only use young nettles for eating - the stringy big stuff can make the fertilizer "tea". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted July 9, 2011 Author Share Posted July 9, 2011 Hmm I don't like water cress soup either. So think we will just mow them down, put the outbuilding on it & probably let the chickens scratch about there for a bit. Or suffocate the devils with some old matting. Would goats eat nettles? I have a plan! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 11, 2011 Share Posted July 11, 2011 Just stamp them down to get the sting hairs off and then feed them to the chickens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 14, 2011 Author Share Posted August 14, 2011 (edited) fffffff Edited August 14, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 14, 2011 Author Share Posted August 14, 2011 First day as an official Small Holder - we attacked the nettles on the land with a brush cutter - fabulous! They are now flat & cleared. Chicken house is going there, plus some other planned sheds. What amazed us is that 3 chickens from a neighbouring small holding wandered onto our side & straight into the nettles that hadn't even been cut - why didn't they get stung? Hubby says it was very satisfying cutting those nettles down. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 oooh, visitors already so, you actually in there now then? you are taking millions of photos arent you?? cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share Posted August 15, 2011 No - will be in from 27th. We were just sorting out some of the land, ready for chook house delivery etc. They were very nice visitors if not a bit nosey though! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Nettles near the house are likely to be over the septic tank soakaway where the soil is rich. Frequent strimming will keep them down. I personally wouldn't put any structure on them as if ever you have problems with the soakaway (and they do occur) you have a building to shift first. Just a guess and apologies if I'm on the wrong track Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
