Are Nettles Good For Wildlife?

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 environment?

These gather certain Micronutrients and Macronutrients. Among these plants are stinging nettles, which can mine for Sodium, Sulphur, Nitrogen , Calcium, Potassium, Iron & Copper, and can in turn improve neighbouring plants’ defence against pest and diseases.

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.

Are Stinging nettles good for anything?

Stinging nettle has been used for hundreds of years to treat painful muscles and joints, eczema, arthritis, gout, and anemia. Today, many people use it to treat urinary problems during the early stages of an enlarged prostate (called benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH).

What animals get stung by nettles?

Generally, all dogs of any age and breed are just as vulnerable to stinging nettle stings as one another.

What animal eats nettles?

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.

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.

Do birds eat stinging nettles?

Stinging nettles are great for wildlife
Later in the year small seed-eating birds, including chaffinch, bullfinch and house sparrow all benefit from the thousands of small seeds which each nettle plant produces.

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.

Should I put nettles in my compost?

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. In other words, by adding them to your compost heap you’ll speed up the decomposition process.

Do bees like stinging nettles?

The dead nettle has bright orange pollen which give the foraging bees an orange stripe on thier heads. This weed is particularly useful to them as that pollen may be in short supply if there are few flowering trees in your area.

Are nettles high in nitrogen?

As a leafy green, stinging nettle is also high in nitrogen, chlorophyll, and plant polyphenols – all of which bolster plant health and stimulate growth.

Where should I plant nettles?

Choose a spot that has rich, moist soil a little way from any other herbs. Seed in the spring in rows that are an inch (2.5 cm.) apart and keep the area moist. If you started your nettle inside, transplant the growing nettle greens into a prepared garden bed, spaced at least 12 inches (31 cm.)

Why do dogs eat stinging nettles?

Not only will nettles help with reducing allergies, but due to their anti-inflammatory nature, they have can also help with the pain of arthritis. To treat your dog for allergies, simply add 1/2 tsp. of dried leaf per cup to their food daily during allergy season. You can do this all year long.

Are nettles invasive?

OTHER MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : Stinging nettle is considered a weedy, invasive species. It is listed as a noxious weed in several Canadian provinces. Stinging nettle hairs are irritating to human skin, and the pollen is a major contributor to summer hay fever [1].

Why do nettles not sting dogs?

Advertisement. The outer layer of skin on a dog’s nose is very thick, so I suspect that the trichomes are too delicate to penetrate it. The rest of the dog’s body has hair, and even though the ears and belly have much less hair than elsewhere, it probably still provides protection.

Do butterflies like nettles?

‘Nettles are the food plant for the caterpillars of red admiral, small tortoiseshell, painted lady and comma butterflies. ‘It’s important to treat your nettles like any other garden plant if you are growing for the benefit of butterflies. Cut them regularly to get good fresh growth from the nettles. ‘

Do stinging nettles sting all year round?

It is Stinging Nettle, Urtica dioica. Is there a time of year when Nettles don’t sting? No, they sting year round.

Can chickens eat raw nettles?

When studied in nature, wild birds will eat on stinging nettle as a way to help prevent internal parasites. Chickens will absolutely do the same thing. Nettles are a great way to prevent internal parasites, and possibly treat an infestation when given in medicinal doses.

What is the best way to get rid of nettles?

Weedkiller control

1. Neglected areas can be cleared of established nettles by spraying them with a glyphosate-based weedkiller (such as Roundup Ultra or Doff Weedout Extra Tough Weedkiller) which should be applied as a spray in June, shortly before they flower.
2. A second application may be necessary in September.

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] .