If you apply them in an exposed area, you’ll probably have to rake them back into the garden after big wind storms. Pine needle mulch is the number one mulching material used in landscape plantings in the Southeastern U.S. But mulch that deep may not work around short plants.Īlso, pine needles are easily blown around. Because they’re so light, you need a layer at least 3 to 4 inches thick to keep weeds from germinating. This zesty infusion is an ideal base to create your own sauces, marinades, and salad dressing. When it’s ready, put the liquid through a strain to remove any debris. Add a handful of pine tree needles to a jar of apple cider vinegar and let it soak for around four weeks. Pine needles do have their shortcomings, which are the flip side of their virtues. Flavoring Vinegar With Pine Tree Needles. That same trick also helps lawns thrive under needle-dropping trees. Compost helps buffer the needles’ acidity. If you do have plants that don’t like acid soil, apply a thin layer of compost before you put down the needles. This annual needle drop continues until late fall or early.
Besides, with all those pine trees on your property, your soils are sure to be on the acid side already. Pine trees typically shed one-third of their needles beginning in late summer (September). You’d have to actively work the needles into the soil for them to have any real effect on its pH. While the needles are acidic-they have a pH of around 3.5-they become more neutral as they break down. That concern is largely misplaced, however. Please double-check all your information and ensure the check will clear, as there is a 12 return check fee and collections is outsourced and out of our hands after one attempt to resolve any issues. The cost is 26.50 per 5-ounce bag, including the check processing fees. The biggest knock against pine needles is that they will lower the pH of the soil, making it too acid for plants to grow. Click here to order two 5-ounce bags of white pine needles.
Even better, in your case, they’re free for the raking. They are light and fluffy, so spreading them around is a piece of cake, and they don’t compact much as they decompose, so you don’t have to worry about them becoming too thick or forming a rain-impervious mat. Pine needles, also known as pine straw, make fine mulch for some flower beds. Mary Ann Carpentieri, Warwick, RI Pine Needles Can Work as Mulch Can I use the needles as mulch around flowers? I have a stand of white pines that seem to always be dropping needles.