Plant Doctor Archive

Stinging nettles a curse

WE have a kiwifruit orchard which has lots of stinging nettles under the vines. Could you please advise us what we can use to get rid of them without causing any damage to the vines?

THERE are several herbicides listed as suitable for controlling nettles in kiwifruit orchards, including Amitrole, Activated Amitrole, Caraguard, Diuron and Touchdown. The last three are only available to commercial growers through farm and horticultural suppliers such as Wrightsons or Veg-Gro Supplies.

I recommend you visit your local supplier, seek their advice and check out the product label details before deciding which best suits your conditions. Some are only recommended for use on mature kiwifruit vines, others for use only at certain times of the year, and with most you must avoid getting any spray on kiwifruit foliage or trunks of the vines.

Reproduced with permission from the former Weekend Gardener magazine. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the RNZIH.