The common nettle is one of the most important native plants for wildlife in the UK and supports over 40 species of insect. Its seed and colonising aphids also provides an essential source of food for our birds and our ladybirds.
Are nettles good for the garden?
In the garden, nettle is indispensable as a fertilizer, insecticide, and compost activator. On the farm, nettle’s uses don’t just end there. The farm animals also benefit from all the goodness of nettle as well.
What are nettles good for in nature?
Stinging nettles are great wildlife attractors: caterpillars of the small tortoiseshell and peacock butterflies use them as foodplants; ladybirds feast on the aphids that shelter among them; and seed-eating birds enjoy their autumn spoils.
Do nettles serve a purpose?
Because it’s rich in nitrogen, this is particularly useful for leafy vegetables like kale, chard and spinach. You can also cut nettles to lay, as they are, around larger plants or shrubby fruits, where they will serve as a valuable mulch. Their high nitrogen content also makes them a natural compost activator.
Do animals feel stinging nettles?
You might think that because your dog has a nice thick fur coat, they won’t feel stinging nettle stings. However, their fur only gives them a little bit of protection from these nasty nettles, and dogs can be stung by nettles and definitely feel it!
Should you remove nettles?
You can dig up the plants at any time of the year. However, it is important that you prevent the stinging nettles, especially those that are annual, seeding by cutting down the plants in mid-summer or even earlier.
When should nettles be cut down?
The best time to cut nettles for a liquid plant fertiliser is early spring, as this is when the nitrogen content is at its highest. To ensure that the butterfly larvae are not disturbed it is best to cut in March and again (if you want to) in October.
Are nettles invasive?
Because of its ability to spread vigorously from underground stolons, stinging nettle is considered an invasive species in much of North America—gardeners are more likely to fight it as a weed than to plant it intentionally.
Do nettles make good fertilizer?
The nutrients nettle fertiliser contains include chlorophyll, Nitrogen, Iron and Potassium. Brewed nettle tea will last up to 6 months, enough to get you through the growing season (spring). It works best on leafy plants and heavy feeders.
Do bees like nettles?
Bees like blue, purple, violet and white flowers best, grown in large clumps in a sunny, sheltered spot. They do not like double headed varieties whose nectar and pollen has often been bred out. Wild flowers like dandelions, clover, dead-nettles and alkanet provide welcome food for our urban neighbours.
Is there a difference between nettle and stinging nettle?
Nettle leaf tea is derived from the leaves of the common nettle plant, also known as the stinging nettle. The scientific name for this plant is Urtica dioica. The ‘stinging’ moniker is apt, as handling the plant with exposed skin is known to produce a burning sensation that persists after contact.
What can I do with stinging nettles?
Treatment
- Wash the area with soap and water as soon as possible to relieve the sting and remove the nettle hairs.
- Local symptoms of pain and itching can be relieved by applying a moistened cloth and/or ice pack to the area.
Are nettles high in nitrogen?
The common or stinging nettle (Urtica dioica – القرّاص) is a beneficial weed that is quite widespread so it is easy to gather. It is rich in nitrogen, which makes it a good activator for compost. Nettle tea supplements plants with nitrogen, chlorophyll, magnesium, sulfur, iron, potassium, copper, zinc and calcium.
Why do dogs eat stinging nettles?
Nettles make a superb natural supplement for dogs in need of vitamins and trace minerals in their diets, but do not need to be taking huge multi-vitamin supplements. They are an excellent addition to your dog’s well-balanced diet.
Why do dogs not get stung by nettles?
How is it that stinging nettles don’t seem to affect my dog’s sensitive nose and ears or his relatively fur-free belly while I respond rapidlywith a very painful skin rash? Nettles are covered in tiny, hair-like structures called trichomes with fragile ends that break off when touched.
Is nettle toxic to cats?
Nettles not only boost your pet’s immune system, but they’re also natural diuretics that help your cat and dog get rid of waste from the body and are great a natural remedy for those pets that often suffer from allergies. Nettles are a cooling herb so work well for those pets that are always hot.
Do cows eat nettles?
A study by Humphries and Reynolds confirmed the usefulness of nettles as a forage crop for cows. Production of milk was maintained when nettles were used to replace dry grass silage in the diet of lactating dairy cows [115] .
Why are nettles growing in my garden?
Stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) are able to survive in a wide range of conditions but are most common on ground that’s been left uncultivated for a long period. Plants can spread to form clumps, and seed is also distributed to infest new areas.
How do you dig up stinging nettles?
To get rid of stinging nettles, cut them down in early summer before they start to flower and use a garden fork to dig up the roots of the plants. Hoe beds regularly to kill stinging nettle seedlings, or dig up individual seedlings with a hand fork.
Do butterflies lay eggs on nettles?
Many common garden butterflies, such as the Red Admiral, Comma and Small Tortoiseshell, lay eggs on stinging nettles, but other butterflies breed on more garden-worthy plants.
How long do stinging nettles last?
Nettle stings can be itchy and you may feel a stinging or burning sensation. This will usually settle down within a few minutes or a few days and you can often treat them yourself.