What is it and how do I get rid of it??

Hi, I've got a lot of this growing throughout flower beds. When I first saw it I thought it was just a normal stinging nettle but doesn't look right with the purpley leaves/stems. It's quite low level too and seems to spread quite quickly with roots running just below the surface before new plants pop up elsewhere (now including in the edges of the lawn, argh!). It's covered in tiny thorns which sting, even through gloves, so as I have small children I really want it gone from the garden. There's lots of it that has spread throughout the area where we have a load of lilies coming up. Is there anyway I can get rid of this without needing to dig the whole area up? Ideally I'd like to save the lilies but if they have to go to get rid of this they will! Thanks.

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A systemic weedkiller will sort it out - there's one that you dab onto the leaf and it kills just that plant - leaves and root.

I would have said nettle as well - it's a shame they sting as I think they have quite attractive foliage.

 

It definitely looks like stinging nettles rather than the less-menacing looking and non-sting, harmless dead nettles.

I'm with Sheal on this one. His method of erradication is the best course of action. You can try digging them up but even with a fork (which is far better for removing roots), any tiny fragments of the yellow roots/rhizomes, which reach to surpising depths, will just result in another patch appearing in a few weeks/months.