Never ending nettles!

[Putthatonyourneedles]

For the last few years I've battled with stinging nettles. I've dug them up, sprayed them with weedkiller, covered them with tarpaulin to deny them light but the bloody things keep coming back and spreading further each time.

Any ideas?

[shovetheholly]

Attack now! You've gotta get em before they set seed. This is absolutely critical, because otherwise they go everywhere.

Get a spade and dig them out from the roots - don't just pull off the green bits as this won't work. If they cover too great an area to tackle in one go, then mow them with a strimmer and do it repeatedly as they try to grow back as this will weaken them while you dig. When you have cleared a patch, keep going back and back and back.

Apologies if you've already done all this. They are an absolute pain in the backside and you have my sympathies.

[Ferguson]

And the roots can run and run under the ground, but it should be possible to trace the roots and dig them out. Wear gloves and pull the roots free, and you ought to be able to get rid of them.

However: they are good for wildlife, so if you have an unwanted corner of the garden where you can allow them to grow you may be rewarded with peacock butterflies!