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stinging nettles Urtica dioica Nettles support a wide range of native British butterflies including the Small Tortoiseshell, Peacock, Comma, and Red Admiral. Nettle seeds are a favourite food of small birds in the late summer and autumn. A patch of stinging nettles near the edge of the garden or in an out-of-the-way spot is one of the best way to bring beneficial wildlife into the garden. However, since stinging nettles aren't the best main feature for a garden, I have reluctantly had to give advice on getting rid of them. How to kill nettles: Chemical Options: Nettles will be kill off fairly easily by a Glyphosate based weed killer. Organic Options: Dig up the main root. Hoeing or any frequent cultivation of the soil should disturb the rest of the root system enough to stop the nettles growing coming back again. Alternative Options: Eat them; nettles have been an important food for centuries (the cooking process neutralizes the sting). They make a nice iron rich soup and a particularly good wine, but you must use the young stems as older stalks become toxic. If you really enjoy eating them you could always take part in the annual World nettle eating championship held in Dorset each year (I wish I was making that up.) For more on the wildlife supported by stinging nettles visit: Nettles.org.uk Back to weed index