More and more people are using pine needles instead of mulch this year. Perhaps because of the economy or for whatever

Terri J
by Terri J
reason, is there a big "no-no" to using pime needles other than the create more acid in the soil and some plants do do well at all in acidic soils?
  8 answers
  • Walter Reeves Walter Reeves on Apr 26, 2012
    Actually, pine needles don't make the soil any more acid than any other leaf. Pines can tolerate acid soil so they are accused of making the soil acid....but 'taint so!
  • Terri J Terri J on Apr 26, 2012
    Now that I know the truth about Pine needles, are there any peranials for sun/patai sun and shade that I absolutely do not want to use the needles on? I have never seen it posted on the plant tags about not putting in acidic soils.
  • Debi M Debi M on Apr 26, 2012
    I use pine needles all around my azaleas. Its less expensive than mulch and the azaleas love the acid. I also pile them around the trees in my yard for ease in mowing the yard. LOL, and I pick up all of the pine cones and put them in a large trash can. Pine cones are very useful for starting fires in my wood heater.
  • Terri J Terri J on Apr 27, 2012
    Thanks for the answers, but I'm still hoping for more ideas on types of flowes, etc that due well with piine needles instead of mulch.
  • Pam Pam on Apr 27, 2012
    Here in Central Louisiana, we have an abundance of pine trees and I have seen pine needles used around all kinds of shrubs, trees and plants. Even the small flowers in beds. Most of the landscapers use pine needles and I have never heard anyone say that the pine is harmful to any plants. A plus, when it rains the pine stays put when the mulch floats everwhere out of the beds and down the sidewalks.I have spent monow want ney on mulch for years and now want nothing but pine needles.
  • Douglas Hunt Douglas Hunt on Apr 27, 2012
    Terri, as Walter says, there is no evidence that pine needles acidify the soil, so they will have no effect on plants, other than providing the benefits that any good organic mulch does.
  • Terri J Terri J on Apr 27, 2012
    Thanks all for solving an "od wives tale" about using pines needles instead of mulch. Now, I can use the money for mulch to buy more flowers with. Have all the free pine needles I can get benind the fence!
  • Pam Pam on Apr 27, 2012
    That's what I was thinking. More flowers is the way to go.