"Janet Galpin" wrote in message
...
I have a chicken house and run which have not bee used for over five
years. The house is in good condition but the run, which is quite a
large area, has become completely over-run with nettles. I would like to
restore it to non-nettle vegetation as quickly as possible so that I can
begin keeping chickens again.

My vague plan was to begin to mow it as soon as new growth starts in the
spring. I would prefer not to use chemicals. I'd be prepared for some
physical labour but think the area is too large to dig all the roots out
by hand.

I would welcome any suggestions as to what might be the most effective
and quickest way of getting rid of the nettles and some idea of how long
it might take simply by mowing regularly.

Many thanks

Janet G
Our hens used to avoid eating the nettles, I would spot spray with
glysophate the actual nettles or you could try digging them out. just mowing
will take a while (say most of next season) but that will eventually also
get rid of them as once the fox had eaten our chickens I had to start mowing
up in the orchard again and the nettles have all gone without using weed
killer.

--
Charlie, gardening in Cornwall.
http://www.roselandhouse.co.uk
Holders of National Plant Collections of Clematis viticella (cvs) and
Lapageria rosea