How to kill stinging nettles efficiently depends on whether you are dealing with a plant or tree. Most people don’t realize that the plant can actually cause no harm at all, only discomfort. Close pruning or cutting off the stem will usually retard further growth. If you find that the plant is seriously infested, you should try to remove all the foliage on or around the base of the plant. Otherwise, if dealing with a tree or bush with stinging nettles, it might be necessary to resort to toxic chemical herbicides like isocarboxazid, carbaryl, or oxyfluorfen, that are only available to certified pesticide applicators. In either case, make sure that you follow the package directions carefully and wear protective gloves and eye protection.
The most toxic part of the plant is the stem, so getting rid of it should be your last resort. The area that is infested with stinging nettles should be thoroughly cleaned, including the surrounding ground and grass. If the area remains infested, the next step should be to eradicate the root system of the nettles. This can be done by hand or with commercial nettle root killers, available from many garden centers.
The next step in controlling stinging nettles is to reduce the number of hairs that are growing. When the flowers begin to open, hairs begin to be produced and new stinging nettles appear. So, one way of reducing the number of hairs is to keep the plants in partial shade. If this is not possible, then you should try to remove the flowers before they come out, which should help control the population of the insects.
One problem that often occurs when dealing with stinging nettles is that the leaves are covered with tiny hairs. These hairs do not break off and fall, but remain attached to the leaf. Therefore, you should make sure that the leaves are always dry after washing. They should also never be stored in the sun or exposed to dry air. Some people try to use an alcohol-based detergent in washing the leaves, but this is not a recommended method as the alcohol may damage the roots.
The most effective way of removing the hairs from the leaves and stems is to wash them in a mixture of water and vinegar. The leaves should always be washed with water, as vinegar tends to hasten the decomposition process. Some people use a solution of baking soda and water in equal quantities, though, as this also hastens the decomposition. Many people prefer the partial shade effect that stems from using fresh linen clothes for cleaning the leaves.
When using a weed killer, it should only be used when the soil is dry and not moist. You should not apply the weed killer to the soil for several days after the last rain. You will want to ensure that the weed killers work properly, however, by making sure that you protect the foliage of the plants that need to be destroyed from the weed killer.
When using a stinging nettle solution, it is best to only spray the foliage and stings of the nettle plant. Do not spray the ground, as this will not eliminate the problem. To add additional protection to the plant, wrap a plastic bag around it and place it in an area that is not exposed to the weather. This solution can be very effective if you have a small lawn surrounding the home, but will not work well in larger areas. It will not keep the hairs from growing back again.
If you still have questions about how to kill stinging nettles, it is recommended that you call a local gardening store or garden expert. They can help answer your questions about using nettle solutions to get rid of the bothersome plants. If you do not want to spend money on a commercial product, there are commercial products available at many gardening stores. They contain the same ingredients that you can find in a simple home garden shop.