Do Birds Like Stinging 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.

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.

Are Stinging nettles good for the garden?

Because it’s rich in nitrogen, this is particularly useful for leafy vegetables like kale, chard and spinach. 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.

Are nettles good for feeding plants?

Nettle Nettles also make a good plant feed – they have more nitrogen and less potassium than comfrey, so they are best for feeding leafy greens such as salad leaves and brassicas. Select younger leaves, as they contain more nitrogen and less tough cellulose and lignin, so they break down quickly in water.

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.

Do Stinging nettles help arthritis?

Stinging nettle is an alternative remedy that people use for many reasons, including reducing arthritis pain and treating seasonal allergies. However, there is limited research to suggest stinging nettle is an effective remedy, and more studies are necessary before researchers can confirm its health benefits.

Do butterflies like stinging 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. ‘

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 stingy nettles hurt cats?

Nettle stings can cause severe irritation to our pets and sometimes the pet will not put their weight through the affected feet to avoid the pain.

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.

Is stinging nettle 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].

What is a good thing that nettles can be used for?

The leaves are sometimes eaten as a cooked vegetable. Stinging nettle is most commonly used for diabetes and osteoarthritis. It is also sometimes used for urinary tract infections (UTIs), kidney stones, enlarged prostate, hay fever, and other conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.

Why are nettles good for wildlife?

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.

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.

Can stinging nettles compost?

Yes, you can compost nettles. Nettles are considered a natural composting accelerator, especially if you’ve got a “brown“-heavy heap. You can also use nettles to make a liquid fertiliser for the garden – ferment them in rainwater at a ratio of 10:1 for a few weeks, either in a covered bucket or an old fizzy pop bottle.

What lays eggs on nettles?

The colourful Nymphalid butterflies will lay their eggs on the nettle leaves and these will provide food for the caterpillars. Look out for eggs laid singly by the Red Admiral and Comma or in batches by the Small Tortoiseshell and Peacock.

What happens if you get stung by stinging nettle?

Symptoms. Small exposures to nettles can cause local symptoms such as burning, itching, redness, swelling (occasionally small blisters will form) and local numbness. Symptoms are usually self-limiting and resolve within a few days.

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.

Does nettle help hair growth?

There aren’t a lot of quality studies on stinging nettle, or Urtica dioica, for hair growth, but one study showed that taking this herbal extract increased dermal papilla cell growth. These cells are part of the hair follicle and regulate hair growth.

Who should not drink nettle tea?

Pregnant people
Interactions. Pregnant people should not take nettle or drink nettle tea. Due to a lack of research, children under the age of 12 years should also avoid nettle. It is important that people with existing conditions and those who take certain medications speak with a healthcare professional before trying nettle.