- Do you have to water a scented nettle outdoors?
- How can you fertilize this perennial?
- When and how do you cut back the scented nettle?
- How hardy are the plants and is it worth overwintering them?
- Which pests and diseases like the sweet nettle?
Sweet nettle not only smells delicious, but it also looks fantastic when in the middle of its flowering period. It is a true bee magnet and expresses itself to advantage alongside other perennials. But only if properly cared for.
The scented nettle is very easy to care for
Do you have to water a scented nettle outdoors?
To grow it is important to water the fragrant nettle (Agastache). Later, watering only regains its importance when it comes to persistent heat and drought. The sweet nettle does not like a dry environment in the soil. It is best to water it regularly to keep its flowers for a long time.
How can you fertilize this perennial?
Fertilizing is also negligible with this plant. It is enough to fertilize them once a year. The perfect time for this is spring between late February and early April. For example, the following are suitable for sparing fertilization:
- special herbal fertilizers
- Long-term perennial fertilizer
- liquid manure
- horn shavings
- rotted manure
- rotted compost
When and how do you cut back the scented nettle?
You should cut the nettle twice. The first cut takes place after the first wave of flowers around the beginning of July. Simply cut off the old flowers with garden shears. This stimulates a second bloom.
The second pruning can be done in the fall. In October, all above-ground parts of the plant are cut back close to the ground. If you're hopeful of self-seeding, leave the old blooms so seeds can develop!
How hardy are the plants and is it worth overwintering them?
What you should know:
- few species are hardy (-23 °C)
- most species are frost-resistant down to -10 °C
- To be on the safe side, generally plant in a sheltered place and protect with brushwood in winter
- more important than protection from the cold is protection from winter wet
- Overwinter scented nettles in a bucket frost-free (10 to 15 °C) and bright
Which pests and diseases like the sweet nettle?
Slugs like to eat scented nettles (Agastache). Disease infestation is rare. Only downy mildew can play a role. Infected parts of the plant should be cut off immediately and disposed of!
tips
It is particularly practical and ecological to add some nettle manure to the irrigation water once or twice a month and use it to water and fertilize the fragrant nettle at the same time.