Caring for a scented nettle is completely uncomplicated, right? While watering and fertilizing may be considered secondary to the survival of this perennial, proper overwintering plays a crucial role!
Are scented nettles hardy?
Most scented nettle species are hardy: Agastache rugosa can tolerate frost down to -23 °C, while Agastache mexicana can withstand down to -10 °C. Winter protection measures such as pruning, compost covering and brushwood cover are recommended for frost-sensitive varieties. Good drainage and a protected location are important to prevent winter wetness.
Not all species are well hardy
Most types of sweet nettle can tolerate more or less frost. Some scented nettles are hardy down to -23 °C. This is largely the Agastache rugosa, which originally comes from Asia. The other scented nettles tolerate frost down to a minimum of -10 °C. These are usually the representatives of the Agastache mexicana.
How do you protect the scented nettle from frost?
The sensitive scented nettles such as the Agastache mexicana varieties and also those that were planted outdoors in rough locations such as coastal and mountainous regions should be protected from frost as a precaution.
How it works:
- cut back close to the ground in autumn
- add a layer of compost over the root area
- with brushwood e.g. B. cover spruce or fir
- Remove from winter protection from March/April
Attention: winter wetness is your biggest enemy
In many cases it is less the frost that is causing problems for the scented nettles outside. Often it is accumulated moisture in the root area that announces the imminent end of a scented nettle. For example, the roots rot due to melting snow if the water cannot drain away.
Therefore, it is extremely important that when planting a sweet nettle, you ensure drainage in the soil, including sand, gravel or expanded clay! On top of that, it is advisable to only plant scented nettles in protected locations.
Overwinter potted plants indoors
Is your scented nettle in a pot on the balcony, terrace or in front of the house entrance? Then you should put them in in the fall, otherwise the root ball will freeze and the plant will die! This is how it works:
- Cutting down sweet nettle in October
- choose a bright, frost-free room
- well suited for overwintering: bedrooms, winter gardens, stairwells (10 to 15 °C cool)
- water sparingly
- do not fertilize
- check for pest infestation
Tip
Anyone who has left the seed heads of the perennial standing can, with luck, enjoy new, additional scented nettles next year (self-sowing).
