Weeds have easy time on bare soil. In addition: If you mulch, you have to water less, fertilize less, weed less and do not necessarily have to apply antifreeze to the root area of the mulched plant in winter. How about mulching with nettles?

Nettles for mulching should be harvested in the first half of the year

Benefits of mulching with nettles

Mulching with nettles has many advantages:

  • suppresses and destroys weeds
  • keeps snails away
  • is free (in contrast to bark mulch, wood chips etc. from the trade)
  • an abundance of nutrients, is slowly released into the soil
  • combines fighting the nettle with something useful
  • improves the humus quality

Harvesting nettles: not too late!

If you want to harvest nettles for mulching, you shouldn't wait too long. Harvest the nettles from spring to summer. From September at the latest, they should no longer be harvested for mulching. Then they have already formed their seeds. These would quickly spread the plants as a mulch layer and soon sprout as 'weeds'.

How to harvest nettles for mulching fastest

A sea of nettles is ideal for quick harvesting. To do this, you simply take a scythe and scythe the plants. Alternatively, the nettles can be harvested in no time using a trimmer. If you have more time, you can also pick the plants more carefully by hand (wear gloves!) or cut them off with a knife or scissors.

How long does the mulch last?

Depending on how thick the mulch layer is, it has a different effect/decomposition time. It is recommended to apply the nettle mulch at least 5 cm thick. Then only about 10% of the weeds come through the mulch layer. Ideally, the stinging nettles should be coarsely chopped beforehand.

What plants can you mulch with nettles?

Numerous bedding, fruit and ornamental plants can be mulched with stinging nettles. Among other things, they release a lot of nitrogen to the soil. Heavy consumers such as tomatoes and peppers are happy about such a mulch layer. Weak consumers such as strawberries and peas should not be mulched with stinging nettles too thickly and not too often.

tips

The stinging nettles can also be combined well with comfrey and lawn clippings and thus produce an even better mulch.(239.00€)

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Herbs