killing off nettles

[darth vader]

the land behind my fence is thick with nettles and they keep growing under the fence - how can i get rid of them permanently? Nuclear methods are possibilities i will consider, but organic/natural methods preferred. (By the way i realise that nettles attract butterflies so it's only the nettles under the fence i wish to commit genocide on)

[gazzawazza]

You need to dig down below the bottom of the fence and plant some weed suppressant membrane (as deep as you can) and bring it up past the bottom of the fence. Personally, I would go on the other side of the fence and dig down, then stand some paving slabs vertically to prevent the little blighters getting through as an additional barrier with the membrane as described above.

[xyzzyplugh]

Aha! This gives me a can't wait to try it idea.. I read on the Web that salt kills grass and I tried it out on a humpy part of my lawn that is difficult to mow. Boy! That sucka died a death! I will try this inexpensive little killer on nettles then, watch this space.

[quattro]

If you dig down on your side of the fence and clear a border of grass and look through the soil you will spot the nettle roots as they are an orangey yellow colour pull these out and keep that area clear of plants unless you plant some shalow rooted bedding plants then you can dig it over now plant your plants and when they have died you can dig it over and clear the weeds out again . The unorganic way is to get some weedkiller and kill them and then plant some Sedum as butterflies love that even more and it grows almost anywhere .