On 25/06/2012 11:46, sweetheart wrote:

"Martin Brown" wrote in message
...
On 25/06/2012 09:24, sweetheart wrote:

"Chris Hogg" wrote in message

Against large scale 10' high nettles unless you are standing on a high
step ladder with your watering can you are going to waste most of the
glyphosate on the ground. You did wet the leaves with it didn't you?

Well that is the problem. It is difficult. I have been cutting them down
in patches( using sheers) and then using glyphosate. But the nettles
have almost lethal stings on them! well painful anyway if I get caught.

It sounds like you are managing to do just about everything wrong!

The combinations that will work are. Lop them off repeatedly at ground
level with a strimmer, machette or scythe. *Or* apply glyphosate to the
entire plant as is and leave it alone for three weeks to take effect.

Cutting them down and then applying glyphosate is just about the least
effective way of using it. Do one or the other but not both at the same
time. The fastest way is a glyphosate hit, then a slash and burn and
finally physical removal of anything that is left. Spot weeding as
needed to remove regrowth (and be aware there will be nettle seeds in
the ground for decades to come). So you will need to hit it every year
with a hoe or weedkiller to prevent new seedlings growing to big plants.

Once it is tinder dry torch it to zap any seed that has been set and
then keep at it with periodic applications of glyphosate to stop the
stuff growing back. Chrome leather gloves and no exposed bare skin makes
sense when fighting brambles and nettles physically.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown