Can I Cut The Nettles In The Garden Down Now?

[sandyRoe]

Or would there still be insects using them as a food source?

[vulcan42]

So it's good to be conned if it helps you to believe a bigger con? And they say atheist are twisted.

[penelope2]

^^^^vulcan42. ?????

[sandyRoe]

Yes. Quite. And the nettles? :-)

[sandyRoe]

OK. I'll leave them.

[Hopkirk]

Be careful if you use a strimmer on them, it flicks the poison up into the air and onto your skin.

[wolf63]

You can make Nettle shampoo with them. Have you got hair?

[Khandro]

If they are out of sight or don't bother you, try to alter your mindset and view them as lovely green foliage. If you want to see butterflies, and who doesn't? you have to have caterpillars and they need wild plants for their survival

[Maydup]

We have cut the ones that were hanging low over the lawn but have left the rest for the catterpillars, so half and half really!

[philkool]

I noticed when reading the ingredients of Maynards Wine Gums that stinging nettles were included.

[rsvp]

I tend to wait until everything is seriously past it's sell by date then do a bit of trimming. Never know what benefits from what.

[Unionstreet]

Its best to cut before they start seeding

There is an old saying
Cut in June .... You cut too soon
Cut in July .......they fade and die

[sandyRoe]

I'll let them wither away before clearing up the garden a bit before winter.

[TWR]

If there's children about Sandy " Get them out"

[Chipchopper]

If you allow the seeds to develop, it may also provide food for seed eating birds such as finches and house sparrows.

[Clanad]

If they're similar to our thorny Canadian Thistle here in the U.S., one needs to dig them up to the bottom of its root so as to prevent regrowth next spring. We can't pull them unless the soil is very damp since they break off at ground level…

Seen here: http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/WEEDS/canada_thistle.html

[sandyRoe]

Clanad, thankfully they're not as bad as that. I read somewhere that they provide food for insects and birds and thought that's as good a reason as any to leave them. One less chore to do.

[-Talbot-]

Congratulations Sandy.

[ladybirder]

Good for you sandy.

[sandyRoe]

It's nice to be able to dress idleness in a cloak of virtue.