force of nature
Natural fertilizer and good against pests: This is how you make nettle manure
The shoots of the “big nettle” (Urtica dioica) are best suited for manure
© Zbynek Pospisil/Getty Images
Ornamental and useful plants draw the nutrients they need from the soil. To promote their growth, you can make your own organic fertilizer from nettles – or use the decoction as a chemical-free pesticide.
Most people associate stinging nettles with a painful itch that is triggered by contact with the skin. The medicinal and cultivated plant can do much more than just cause a rash: it is a real powerhouse and contains far more nutrients and vitamins (including silica, potassium and nitrogen) than many other plants. This makes it ideal as an organic fertilizer or for combating annoying pests such as aphids. We’ll tell you everything you need to make nettle manure in this article. We will also explain to you how to properly use the growth-promoting decoction afterwards.
Organic Fertilizer: These ingredients are required
The shoots of the large nettle (Urtica dioica) are said to be best suited for the production of a natural organic fertilizer. However, before you harvest these, you must long gardening gloves put on to minimize the risk of injury to your hands and arms. Stinging nettles are particularly easy to cut off with a regular one secateurs. You also need these ingredients: a large one plastic bucket as well as stale tap water – rainwater low in minerals would be even better. The mixing ratio should be 1:10, i.e. per kilogram of fresh nettles (alternatively you can also use 200 grams dried nettles use) ten liters of liquid come. The nutrients are completely decomposed in the manure.
A notice: A metal bucket is not suitable for making nettle manure due to the fermentation process.
Depending on the exposure time, nettles can be used to make a natural fertilizer or a pesticide
© waldenstroem/Getty Images
Making nettle manure: This is how it works
After you have harvested the nettles, do the following:
- Cut the leaves and shoots small with (gardening) scissors – ideally directly above the bucket provided.
- Pour the recommended amount of water over the nettles so that all parts of the plant are completely covered.
- Place the bucket in a sunny spot to speed up the fermentation process and stir the manure every two days.
- The mixture should be ready after two to three weeks. You can recognize that the manure is finished when there are no longer any bubbles visible.
Tip: During the fermentation process, the manure begins to smell. To stop the smell of putrefaction – or more precisely the strong-smelling ingredients in it – just give it a little Primary rock flour into the bucket.
How to use fertilizer correctly
Before you use the nettle manure as a nitrogen-containing fertilizer or for pest control, you should remove any plant residue that remains in it. You can easily sieve these out and dispose of them in the compost – or you can distribute them like a kind of mulch on your vegetable or ornamental plant beds. The finished manure, on the other hand, must first be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 before you fertilize your plants. You can then pour the manure over the beds once a week.
But be careful: The natural fertilizer is not suitable for peas and carrots, garlic and onions or even beans.
However, if the nettles are to be used to combat aphids, the mixture only needs to steep for 12 to 24 hours. Then sift out the plant residues and filter the brew again through a tea towel to filter out even the smallest plant residues – otherwise they would spray bottle clog. You can then spread the undiluted manure over the affected leaves (which don’t want to eat!). Important to know: Use the finished brew immediately as it will last for a maximum of three days.
Sources: My beautiful garden, NABU
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