Should you get rid of nettles in the garden?

Biting is not the most pleasant weed Out there – the clue is in the name – but should you really get rid of nettles in the garden?

Well, before you start do your best research Ways to get rid of hivesIt is worth learning about Wildlife Benefits they offer. Sure, most weeds have their biodiversity qualities—but according to experts, nettles cater to one pollinator in particular: butterflies.

I also saw nettles in the award-winning show garden at this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show – so it’s safe to say they’re being recognized as the star of the show rather than a background character (or worse, something worth ditching altogether). If you’re wondering if you should get rid of nettles in your garden, first take a look at what the experts have to say.

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Red admiral butterfly on stinging nettle in garden

When we talk about We must leave the weeds in the gardenIt’s usually the types of flowers like clovers and dandelions that get the spotlight. Bees adore them, obviously – but butterflies are also crucial pollinators, and there’s one weed they love even more.

Enter, nettles – the unsung heroes of the UK’s butterfly population. According to Morris HankinsonRed Admiral, managing director of Hops Grove Nursery, is particularly fond of nettles.

‘The red admiral is a dark black and red migrant butterfly that often lays its eggs on stinging nettles, which is why it’s so important to let your garden grow a little more wild,’ he says. ‘Leaving nettles provides breeding and feeding habitat for caterpillars.’

This The wild garden trend was huge at this year’s Chelsea Flower Showand Sarah Eberle, designer of The Campaign to Protect Rural England Gardens: On the Edge (RHS Chelsea Garden of the Year), told me that more than 40 species of invertebrates are supported by nettles. It’s no surprise, then, that the award-winning garden featured nettles in its planting scheme.

Nettle in the garden

(Image credit: Getty Images / D-New-Pic)

However, nettles are grown in moderation. They can be a safety hazard, due to their propensity to bite, and they can also be a task for control.

‘Nettles are invasive growers, capable of spreading quickly if not managed,’ explains horticulturist and The Plant Pod host, leading many homeowners to consider their removal as the easiest option for maintaining a tidy, low-maintenance garden. Ross Dyke.

That said, Ross favors leaving small patches of nettles to provide support Wildlife.

‘Instead of viewing them purely as pests, some gardeners will take a more nuanced approach by managing nettles rather than eradicating them by removing them entirely,’ he says. ‘For example, you might consider designating a particular corner of your garden to contain a patch of nettles. This strategy allows you to enjoy their benefits, such as supporting wildlife and enriching the soil, without allowing them to dominate your garden space or detract from its overall appearance.’

Such hydration stations are worth skipping Bee watering stations from the Amazon Caring for pollinators even in hot weather. Long stakes can be placed in a garden border or bed.

A rare swallowtail butterfly, Papilio machaon, rests on a stinging nettle leaf in spring.

(Image credit: Getty Images / Sandra Standbridge)

Ross also mentions that you can harvest nettle leaves (wearing a good pair of gardening gloves, of course!) and Make your own nutrient-rich compost: ‘nettle tea;

‘This organic fertilizer is highly regarded among gardeners for its ability to promote healthy plant growth and increase soil fertility, making it a valuable tool for those practicing organic gardening techniques,’ says Ross.