Everything you need to know about Nettles

Stinging nettles are fast-growing perennial weeds that commonly appear in lawns, borders, and neglected corners of the garden. They thrive in nutrient-rich soil and often spread where the ground has been disturbed.

Unlike annual weeds, nettles come back year after year from underground roots. They spread through both seed and creeping rhizomes, which is why small patches can quickly become large infestations if left untreated.

Understanding Stinging Nettle and maintaining healthy lawn and soil conditions are the best ways to keep them under control.

Common Nettle vs Dead Nettle

It’s important to know the difference between stinging nettles and dead nettles, especially when learning how to identify stinging nettle correctly.

Stinging nettles have pointed, serrated leaves covered in tiny hairs that sting when touched. They grow upright and can reach over 1 metre tall.

Dead nettles, despite the similar name, do not sting. They often have softer leaves and small purple, white, or pink flowers. Because they are less invasive and can even benefit pollinators, they do not usually need controlling in the same way.

Knowing the difference will help you understand how to identify nettle plant species properly before deciding on treatment.

Knowing how to identify stinging nettle early makes it much easier to stop it spreading.

Stinging nettles typically:

• Have dark green, pointed leaves with sharply serrated edges
• Grow opposite each other along the stem
• Are covered in fine hairs that sting when touched
• Produce small greenish flowers in summer
• Spread in dense clumps from underground roots

They are commonly found in:

• Overgrown lawns and borders
• Compost heaps and neglected corners
• Rich or disturbed soil
• Areas with poor lawn density

If you are unsure how to identify nettle plant growth, the stinging hairs are usually the easiest feature to recognise.

A common question is whether nettles are harmful.

Are Stinging Nettles Dangerous to Dogs?

Stinging nettles are not usually dangerous if your dog brushes past them, but they can cause irritation to the skin, mouth, and paws. Dogs that eat nettles may experience drooling, mild stomach upset, or discomfort.

Most cases are not serious and symptoms usually pass quickly. However, it is still best to keep dogs away from large patches of nettles, when treating with a total, or selective weedkiller it is advised that they are kept away from the area until treatment has dried.

Why are Nettles Bad for Your Garden?

Nettles can quickly become a problem if they are left to spread.

They:

• Compete with grass and plants for nutrients and water
• Spread aggressively through underground roots
• Take over borders and neglected areas
• Make parts of the garden unpleasant to use due to their sting

Because of this, understanding how to control nettles is important before they become established.

• There are several effective options when looking at how to control nettles, depending on the size of the infestation.
  
  Manual Removal
• Best for small patches
• Wear thick gloves and long sleeves
• Dig out the entire root system to prevent regrowth
• Works best when the soil is moist

Manual digging is one of the most effective methods for how to get rid of stinging nettles in smaller areas.

A healthy lawn and well-maintained borders can help prevent nettles from returning. Focus on:

• Keeping the lawn thick and healthy
• Filling bare patches with seed or plants
• Regular mowing to weaken new growth
• Mulching borders to suppress seedlings

These steps are an important part of how to control stinging nettle in the long term.

How to Get Rid of Nettles Naturally

If you are looking for how to get rid of nettles naturally, there are a few non-chemical methods that can help:

• Repeatedly dig out the roots
• Cut down new growth regularly
• Cover affected areas with thick mulch or black sheeting
• Improve the health and density of surrounding plants

For larger or more stubborn patches, you may need a broader approach to how to control nettles.

Use Weedkiller

Stinging nettles can be treated with a suitable systemic weedkiller, which is absorbed through the leaves and carried into the roots.

• Apply when nettles are actively growing in spring or summer
• Spray all leaves thoroughly
• Repeat treatment may be needed for larger patches

Using a systemic treatment is often the quickest answer to how to control stinging nettle where manual removal is not practical. If nettles are growing amongst a lawn, products like Kurtail Lawn or SBK Brushwood Killer are excellent at tackling stubborn, woody growth whilst leaving the grass unharmed. For growth on hard surfaces, a total weed killer like Roundup Proactive would be the optimum choice for control of nettles and other unwanted growth.

Nettles may have benefits for wildlife, but they can quickly become invasive in lawns and gardens.

Understanding:

• how to identify stinging nettle
• how to identify nettle plant correctly
• how to remove nettles
• how to get rid of stinging nettles naturally
• how to control nettles over the long term

…will help you keep your garden healthy and easier to manage.

Key Points to Remember

• Stinging nettles spread through both seeds and underground roots
• Manual removal works best when the entire root system is removed
• Natural methods such as digging and mulching can be effective
• Larger infestations may require systemic weedkiller
• Nettles can irritate dogs, but are not usually seriously dangerous